Relationship between the degree of medulla spinalis retraction and motor function in experimental animals

Introduction: Spinal cord trauma can cause partial or total damage to the brain's and spinal cord's connection. The effects of spinal cord injury will affect motor function even if there is a severe injury, and in a longer duration, it will cause death. Medulla spinalis retraction can cause clinical abnormalities, especially in motor function. Methods: This study consisted of three groups of male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). Each group was subjected to 15%, 25% and 37.5% retractions for 1 minute, 3 minutes and 5 minutes, respectively. After that, an assessment was carried out with the footprint test and forced swim test. Data were analyzed with Fisher's exact test. Results: This study had 27 samples of male Wistar rats which were divided into 3 groups. In the 15%, 25% and 37.5% retractions treatment with a duration of 3 minutes and 5 minutes, all samples died. Retraction of 15% of the diameter of the medulla spinalis in 1 minute does not cause motor function disorders. Statistically, there is no significant difference in the degree of medulla spinalis retraction and motor function on the footprint test and forced swim test (p = 0.102). Conclusion: The medulla spinalis retraction of less than 15% with a duration of less than 1 minute will not cause motor function impairment. If more than 15% retraction with more than 1 minute will cause motor function impairment and death, this relationship is not statistically significant.