Outcomes of surgeries for acute cervical spinal cord injury without cervical spine fracture or dislocation in young and middle-aged patients / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the outcomes of surgeries for acute central cervical spinal cord injury without cervical spine fracture or dislocation in young and middle-aged patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 58 young and middle-aged patients with acute central cervical spinal cord injury treated in our hospital between August 2005 and August 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Of these patients, 33 (24 males and 9 females) received surgical treatment and 25 (17 males and 8 females) had conservative therapy. The ASIA grade and ASIA motor and sensory score were used for evaluation at admission and at 14 days and 1 year after the treatment. The neurological symptoms and treatment outcomes in the two groups were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The proportion of patients with ASIA grade D-E and the ASIA motor and sensory scores were all significantly higher in the surgical group than in the non-surgical treatment group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For young and middle-aged patients with central cervical spinal cord injury, immediate surgery can relieve the pressure on the injured spinal cord and improve the micro-circulation to promote functional recovery of the spinal cord.</p>