Research advances in the application of methylprednisolone in the treatment of acute spinal cord injury.

Acute spinal cord injury(ASCI),mainly caused by traffic accidents and fall injuries,is a catastrophic event that can profoundly affect the trajectory of a patient's life. Debate continues over the medical management of ASCI,in particular the usefulness,dosage,and potential risks of methylprednisolone(MP). Although the results of American National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study 2 and 3 trials led to the wide adoption of a high-dose MP regimen for ASCI patients,the reliabilities of their study methods and data were still questionable. Based on the currently available literature,we conclude that high-dose MP is no longer a recommended therapy for ASCI;however,due to the lack of effective treatment,it remains a useful option for this condition.