Purpose: To investigate the function of an experimental cranium trauma model in rats.
Methods: The equipment, already described in the literature and under discreet adaptations, is composed by a platform that produces closed head impact controlled by weight drop with pre-defined and known energy. 25 Wistar male rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) were divided into five equal groups that received different quantities of cranial impact energy: G1, G2, G3 and G4 with 0,234J, 0,5J, 0,762J and 1J respectively and G5 (Sham). Under intense analgesia, each group was evaluated clinically in a sequence of intervals and had their encephalon removed for pathologic analysis.
Results: Important clinical alterations (convulsions, bradycardia, bradypnea and abnormal postures) and focal pathologic (hematomas and hemorrhages) kept proportion with the intensity of the impact. No fracture was observed and the group 4 had 80% mortality rate.
Conclusion: The experimental cranium trauma animal model by weight drop is an alternative of low cost and easy reproduction that allows evaluating clinical and pathological alterations in accordance with studies in experimental surgery aims for new traumatic brain injury approach in rats.