ANALYSIS OF THE SENSITIVITY AND REPRODUCIBILITY OF THE BASSO, BEATTIE, BRESNAHAN (BBB) SCALE IN WISTAR RATS

Clinics, 2008 · DOI: · Published: January 1, 2008

Spinal Cord Injury Mental Health Neurology

Simple Explanation

This study evaluates how well the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) scale can be used to assess the walking ability of rats after they've had a spinal cord injury. Rats were given mild, moderate, or severe spinal cord injuries, and their movement was recorded. Six independent evaluators, who didn't know the severity of the injuries, then scored the rats' walking ability using the BBB scale. The results showed that the BBB scale was good at consistently identifying mild injuries. However, it was less consistent and accurate for moderate injuries, and even less so for severe injuries.

Study Duration

28 days

Participants

30 male Wistar rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scale showed high reproducibility and satisfactory sensitivity for identifying mild injuries.
2
The Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scale showed satisfactory reproducibility and non-satisfactory sensitivity for moderate injuries.
3
The Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scale showed reduced reproducibility and non-satisfactory sensitivity for severe injuries.

Research Summary

This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and reproducibility of the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) scale in assessing locomotor capacity of rats after spinal cord injury. Thirty male Wistar rats underwent spinal cord contusions of varying severity, and their movements were video-recorded and evaluated by blinded independent evaluators using the BBB scale. The study concluded that the BBB scale demonstrates varying degrees of sensitivity and reproducibility depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury, with the highest reliability for mild injuries and the lowest for severe injuries.

Practical Implications

BBB scale for mild injuries

The BBB scale is a reliable tool for assessing locomotor function in rats with mild spinal cord injuries.

Limitations for moderate to severe injuries

The BBB scale may not be as reliable for assessing locomotor function in rats with moderate to severe spinal cord injuries.

Need for complementary methods

For moderate to severe injuries, combining the BBB scale with other methods may improve the accuracy and sensitivity of the assessment.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size.
2
The scores obtained in the upper or lower ranges of the scale have distinct characteristics and do not permit accurate comparisons.
3
Lack of standardization of contusion mechanisms and the use of different types, races, sizes and ages of the animals can impair functional recovery evaluations and make it difficult to compare the results among evaluators.

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