Figure 2.

Graph showing neurological impairment during early time course (up to 72 h = 3d) after trauma/sham injury according to neurological severity score (NSS). (A) In subset of animals without craniectomy, animals treated with ACZ administration demonstrated the significant deterioration compared to sham group (CHI+ACZ vs. sham, 1d: ^*p < 0.05). Due to functional recovery, no significant difference between groups could be recorded at 3d post injury (3d: p > 0.05, ns for all group comparisons within the subset). (B) In turn, among groups treated with craniectomy, the profound functional deterioration could be demonstrated at 1d only in animals without ACZ administration, as compared to reference group (CHI+DC vs. DC, 1d: ^*p < 0.05). Also here, improvement in early outcome at 3d could be documented (3d: p > 0.05, ns for all group comparisons within the subset). CHI, closed head injury; DC, decompressive craniectomy; ACZ, acetazolamide.