Models of spinal cord injury: Part 2. A mathematical model

A mathematical model was constructed to predict motor performance in rats for 8 weeks after spinal cord injury. The model is based on experimental data generated from an investigation of the static-load technique of inducing cord injury and was derived using multiple linear regression. The regression coefficients for weight of the injury-producing load were statistically significant (P less than 0.001), and it was found that the weight of the load contributes over 95% of the posttrauma motor deficit, whereas the time duration of the load resting on the cord contributes less than 5% to the deficit. Sex, pretrauma motor performance, and pretrauma body weight are insignificant covariates. The model may be used to establish expected motor deficits and to derive dose-response curves.