The mechanism of spinal cord cavitation following spinal cord transection

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Abstract
Cavitation adjacent to transection of [dog] spinal cords was successfully eliminated by a 2nd operation 1 wk after the initial spinal cord transection. The 2nd operation consisted of removal of the necrotic spinal cord tissue, thus producing a gap. Segments of autogenous sciatic nerve were inserted into the gap between the spinal cord stumps. If the spinal cord was injured by retransection at the 2nd operation, cavitation again occurred in the spinal cord stumps resulting in separation of the nerve grafts from the spinal cord. Lysosomal spinal cord autotomy, which apparently causes spinal cord cavitation, is a self-limiting process. Once the spinal cord has completed the autotomy, the process will not occur again unless the spinal cord is again traumatized.