Article

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of standing frame and
electrical stimulation on bone quality in a rodent transection model of spinal
cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Seven-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into four
groups: sham, n = 10; SCI, n = 7; SCI + standing frame, n = 7; and SCI +
electrical stimulation, n = 7. Complete SCI was generated by surgical transection
of the cord at the T10 level. Therapies were initiated 3 days after the surgery,
3 days/wk, 20 mins/day, for 30 days. Animals were killed on day 33 postinjury.
RESULTS: No treatment preserved bone mineral density at any skeletal site tested
(P = 0.08-0.99). Standing frame therapy preserved maximal load at the lumbar
vertebral body (14% vs. 37% reduction, P = 0.01) and prevented SCI-induced loss
of stiffness at both the femur (8% vs. 37% reduction, P = 0.03) and the tibia
(35% vs. 56% reduction, P < 0.0001). Electrical stimulation therapy reduced
SCI-induced loss of stiffness at the tibia only (40% vs. 56% reduction, P =
0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Standing frame and electrical stimulation may have potential
as future therapeutic modalities to treat or prevent bone loss after SCI.

Langue : ANGLAIS