The behavior evaluation after a spinal medulla injury focused the locomotion in field during a certain time, using a classification scale developed by Tarlov et al.(18). Tarlov(17) performed experimental studies in dogs, producing medullary compression and assigning a graduation from zero to five to the animal movements. However, this scale has been changed by researchers and its changes, made by several groups, became difficult the comparisons of the measures of the locomotor result. One critical aspect of the research with medullary injury in animals is the standardization of the locomotor recovery evaluation. The scale developed by Tator(19) is simple and easy to use but it can't analyze all the necessary aspects. Basso, Beattie e Bresnahan(2,3) showed a classification scale with a locomotor recovery level in rats presenting a medullary injury produced in laboratory. The data show that the BBB scale is a valid measure to the locomotor recovery and it makes it possible to distinguish the behavior responses in function of the different wounds and to antecipate the anatomical changes in the center of the injury. The purpose of the study was the analysis and comparison of locomotor classification scales, without ambiguity, efficient and expanded in order to standardize the final measures in laboratories.
Spinal medulla experimental injury; Motor recovery; Trauma