Implication of surgical procedure in the induction of headache and generalized painful sensation in a fluid percussion injury model in rats

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BackgroundThis study demonstrated the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and each step of the surgical procedure for a fluid percussion injury (FPI) model on periorbital allodynia. New methodAdult male Wistar rats were divided in naive, incision, scraping, sham-TBI and TBI groups. Periorbital allodynia was evaluated using von Frey filaments, and heat hyperalgesia of the hindpaws was evaluated by a Plantar Test Apparatus. ResultsThe statistical analyses revealed that the surgical procedure decreased von Frey filaments thresholds twenty-four hours after the surgery in all groups when compared to the naive group (p < 0.0001). Scraping, sham-TBI and TBI groups showed a decrease in the periorbital mechanical threshold for 35 days compared with the naive and incision groups (p < 0.0001). Only the TBI group demonstrated a significant difference in periorbital allodynia at 45 and 60 days after the injury (p < 0.01). A significant decrease in the thermal withdrawal latency of the hindpaw contralateral to the lesion was observed in the TBI group compared with the naive group at 7 days and 28 days after the lesion (p < 0.05). Comparison with existing methodsThis study presented in detail the effects of each stage of the surgical procedure for a FPI model on periorbital allodynia over time and characterized the TBI model for this evaluation. ConclusionThe FPI model is relevant for the study of headache and generalized pain in both acute and chronic phases after an injury.