Clinical Evaluation of the Effect of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate and Meloxicam in Experimental Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) has limited repair capacity, and any spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause persistent disability in motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. The harmful reactions around the lesion must be stopped to prevent this consequence. Objectives: The present study compares the clinical effects of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) and meloxicam in acute spinal cord injury in an animal model of rats. Methods: We randomly divided 24 male Wistar rats into 4 groups: 1) sham, 2) placebo, 3) SCI+MPSS (30 mg/kg, IV), and 4) SCI+meloxicam (1 mg/kg, SC). We used a Fogarty embolectomy catheter to induce a compression injury to the rats’ T8-T9 spinal cord segment. The drugs were injected one hour after surgery. Neurological evaluation was performed using BBB (Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan) test immediately after recovery and then once a week for up to 6 weeks. Results: According to the BBB test results, single-dose administration of MPSS one hour after injury improved motor function significantly compared to placebo. But, there was no significant difference between MPSS and meloxicam groups and between meloxicam and placebo groups (P>0.01). Conclusion: In clinical evaluation, single-dose administration of MPSS one hour after injury improved motor function compared to meloxicam.