Blood flow measurement in experimental chronic cauda equina compression in dogs: changes in blood flow at various conditions.

The purpose of this study was to present a simple method of measurement of blood flow in the nerve root, assess the reliability of this method, and examine the changes of blood flow in chronic cauda equina compression in an experimental setting. A total of 15 dogs were used to determine the blood flow of cauda equina in normal (n = 5), sham (n = 5), and 10 mm Hg compressed cauda equina for 1 week (n = 5). The speed of blood flow was calculated using a specially designed microscope supplied with a video camera. Blood flow in chronic 10 mm Hg compression decreased compared with the sham and normal groups. The kappa value was between 0.75 and 0.96. We conclude that this method might be useful for measurement of blood flow in the nerve root and for confirming the reduction in blood flow of compressed cauda equina.