The edema of cerebral contusion

A model is described for study of the cerebral edema associated with the contusion of closed head injury. A Remington Humane Stunner was used to deliver blows to the skulls of anesthetized cats. Forty-eight hours after impact, those cats demonstrating a one-sided contusion were tested for cerebral edema by measurement of the decrease in density (specific gravity) of white matter from normal values. Significant change in tissue density was seen in the white matter of contused hemispheres. Hemispheres with contusion limited to the cortex (gray matter) showed a change in tissue density which was considerably less than that seen in hemispheres with contusion involving both gray and white matter.