The efficiacy of methylprednisolone and meloxicam in experimental disc herniations in rats

IVABSTRACTTHE EFFICIACY OF METHYLPREDNISOLONE AND MELOXICAM INEXPERIMENTAL DISC HERNIATIONS IN RATSDr. Eser BERKYUREKResidency thesis, Department of NeurosurgerySupervisor: Assist. Prof. Mehmet ALPTEKINMay 2007, 81 pagesIn lumbar disc herniations, functional and structural changes induced byinflammation due to nucleus pulposus have been observed at the nerve root withoutmechanical compression. In this study, the efficiacy of methylprednisolone andmeloxicam on these changes were investigated.Fourty Wistar rats were used in this study and divided into 5 groups. The left L5nerve root and L5-L6 intervertebral disc were exposed. A disc model was produced byinjecting air into the disc space in each group except sham (V.) group. The first groupwas treated with methylprednisolone and meloxicam, second with meloxicam, third withmethylprednisolone. The therapy continued for 5 days. No treatment was applied to thecontrol (IV.) group. In all of the groups, nerve conduction velocity was measured beforethe damage. Seven days later walking analysis had been done, then the nerve conductionvelocity was measured again and left L5 nerve root was removed for histopathologicalinvestigation.Finally, it has been seen that, the inflammatory reaction induced by nucleuspulposus at the nerve root led to a decrease in nerve conduction velocity, sciatic functionindex and an increase in the endoneural edema without mechanical compression.We observed that, the use of methylprednisolone and meloxicam alone ortogether decreased the reduction of nerve conduction velocity, increased the sciaticfunction index and reduced the endoneural edema. However when treated groups werecompared with each others, no superiority were observed between the effects.Key words: Disc herniation, Inflammatory reaction, Methylprednisolone,Meloxicam