Central Cord Syndrome After Fall From Inversion Table.

INTRODUCTION: Central cord syndrome, the most common incomplete traumatic spinal cord injury, often results in functional impairment with variable recovery. CASE PRESENTATION: Central cord syndrome developed in a 64-year-old man during routine home use of an inversion table. DISCUSSION: The incidence of central cord syndrome, which occurs most frequently after a fall, is increasing among older persons. Age-related changes in the cervical spine may predispose the spinal cord to compression and injury during a fall. Evidence for lumbar traction as treatment of low back pain is limited. CONCLUSIONS: This unusual case of spinal cord injury during inversion table use highlights the relationship between anatomical changes in the cervical spine and the mechanism of injury typical in central cord syndrome. The resulting increased risk of central cord syndrome for older adults should be discussed with patients in the context of activities that could lead to falls or cervical spine extension.

Surgical Outcomes in Octogenarians with Central Cord Syndrome: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Central cord syndrome (CCS) is a traumatic cervical spine injury that is treated with surgical decompression. In octogenarians (80-89), surgeons often opt for conservative management instead due to fears of postoperative complications and prolonged recovery times. This study aims to assess the in-hospital complications and outcomes in octogenarians undergoing surgery compared to those undergoing nonsurgical management for CCS. METHODS: The National Trauma Data Bank was queried from 2017 to 2019 for octogenarians with CCS. Patients who received surgical fusion or decompression were divided into the surgery group and the remaining into the nonsurgical group. The surgery group was sampled and propensity score matched with the non-surgery group. Student t tests and Pearson χ2 tests were used to test for group differences. RESULTS: A total of 759 octogenarians with CCS were identified. Following sampling and propensity score matching, 225 patients were identified in each group. The surgery group experienced longer intensive care unit (6.8 days vs. 3.21 days, P < 0.001) and hospital (13.79 days vs. 7.8 days, P < 0.001) lengths of stay and higher rates of deep vein thrombosis (4.89% vs. 0.44%, P = 0.02) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (4% vs. 0%, P = 0.02). Patients did not otherwise differ in mortality rate, other hospital complications, and discharge disposition. CONCLUSIONS: Octogenarians undergoing surgery for CCS experience longer length of stay and complications consistent with prolonged hospitalization but otherwise have similar mortality, hospital complications, and discharge disposition compared to non-surgical treatment. Given the relative lack of short-term drawbacks, surgery should be considered first-line management when the long-term benefits are substantive.

Early versus late surgical decompression for patients with acute traumatic central cord syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The optimal decompression time for patients presenting with acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS) has been debated, and a high level of evidence is lacking. PURPOSE: To compare early (<24 hours) versus late (≥24 hours) surgical decompression for ATCCS. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Medline, PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched from inception to March 15th, 2023. The primary outcome was American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score. Secondary outcomes were venous thromboembolism (VTE), total complications, overall mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), and ICU LOS. The GRADE approach determined certainty in evidence. RESULTS: The nine studies included reported on 5,619 patients, of whom 2,099 (37.35%) underwent early decompression and 3520 (62.65%) underwent late decompression. The mean age (53.3 vs 56.2 years, p=.505) and admission ASIA motor score (mean difference [MD]=-0.31 [-3.61, 2.98], p=.85) were similar between the early and late decompression groups. At 6-month follow-up, the two groups were similar in ASIA motor score (MD= -3.30 [-8.24, 1.65], p=.19). However, at 1-year follow-up, the early decompression group had a higher ASIA motor score than the late decompression group in total (MD=4.89 [2.89, 6.88], p<.001, evidence: moderate), upper extremities (MD=2.59 [0.82, 4.36], p=.004) and lower extremities (MD=1.08 [0.34, 1.83], p=.004). Early decompression was also associated with lower VTE (odds ratio [OR]=0.41 [0.26, 0.65], p=.001, evidence: moderate), total complications (OR=0.53 [0.42, 0.67], p<.001, evidence: moderate), and hospital LOS (MD=-2.94 days [-3.83, -2.04], p<.001, evidence: moderate). Finally, ICU LOS (MD=-0.69 days [-1.65, 0.28], p=.16, evidence: very low) and overall mortality (OR=1.35 [0.93, 1.94], p=.11, evidence: moderate) were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis of these studies demonstrated that early decompression was beneficial in terms of ASIA motor score, VTE, complications, and hospital LOS. Furthermore, early decompression did not increase mortality odds. Although treatment decision-making has been individualized, early decompression should be considered for patients presenting with ATCCS, provided that the surgeon deems it appropriate.

Clinical signs, causes, and outcome of central cord syndrome in 22 cats.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the signalment, clinical findings, presumptive or definitive diagnosis, and outcome in cats with central cord syndrome (CCS). ANIMALS: 22 cats. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Cats evaluated for CCS at 7 referral hospitals between 2017 and 2021 were included. Information retrieved from medical records included signalment, physical and neurological examination findings, diagnostic investigations, definitive or presumptive diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. RESULTS: Median age at presentation was 9 years. Two neuroanatomical localizations were associated with CCS: C1-C5 spinal cord segments in 17 (77.3%) cats and C6-T2 spinal cord segments in 5 (22.7%) cats. Neuroanatomical localization did not correlate with lesion location on MRI in 8 (36.3%) cats. The most common lesion location within the vertebral column was over the C2 and C4 vertebral bodies in 6 (27.2%) and 5 (22.7%) cats, respectively. Peracute clinical signs were observed in 11 (50%) cats, acute in 1 (4.5%), subacute in 4 (18%), and chronic and progressive signs were seen in 6 (40.9%) cats. The most common peracute condition was ischemic myelopathy in 8 (36.3%) cats, whereas neoplasia was the most frequently identified chronic etiology occurring in 5 (22.7%) cats. Outcome was poor in 13 (59%) cats, consisting of 4 of 11 (36.6%) of the peracute cases, 3 of 4 (75%) of the subacute cases, and 6 of 6 of the chronic cases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Central cord syndrome can occur in cats with lesions in the C1-C5 and C6-T2 spinal cord segments. Multiple etiologies can cause CCS, most commonly, ischemic myelopathy and neoplasia. Prognosis depends on the etiology and onset of clinical signs.

[Risk factors associated with lethality on patients with central cord syndrome]. / Factores asociados a la letalidad en pacientes con síndrome medular central agudo postraumático.

Background: Central Cord Syndrome is the most common incomplete spinal cord injury, and it represents 9% of all spinal injuries of the adult. Objective: to determine the risk factors associated with lethality or/and mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with Central Cord Syndrome (CCS). Material and Methods: upon a retrospective cohort with patients with posttraumatic CCS we evaluated at the time of emergency admission and until the hospital discharge. The dependent variable was dead or MV. We calculated incidence, relative risk (RR) with CI95% and a multivariate model for the association of statistically significant variables by means of a risk coefficient model upon the variables that evidenciated tendencies towards risk. Results: From 101 patients with CCS, 85.1% with a severe medullary canal stenosis and 9.9% required MV; the mortality was 13.9%. The only risk factor associated with dead was the use of MV with an RR of 3.6 (CI95% 1.4-9.5); the risk with tendencies towards MV was being older than 60 RR 5.4 (CI95% 0.6-44.2). Other factors demonstrated a tendency towards mortality, but they were not statistically significant. Conclusions: MV is a risk factor associated with mortality, other factors evidenciated tendencies towards mortality; being older than 60, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, narrow spinal canal, more than 20 days of hospital stay and being intervened farther than 10 days from the accident. The incidence of mortality in our sample is greater than thus reported previously on other international articles. To know and identify these and other factors will let us identify patients with a greater risk of complications.

Introducción: el síndrome medular central es la lesión medular incompleta más común y representa el 9% de las lesiones medulares del adulto. Objetivo: determinar la letalidad del síndrome medular central (SMC) y sus factores de riesgo asociados a fallecer y/o uso de ventilación mecánica (VM). Material y métodos: cohorte retrospectiva en pacientes con SMC que acuden a urgencias y valorados hasta su egreso. La variable dependiente fue VM o muerte. Se calculó la incidencia, riesgo relativo (RR) e IC95%; se usaron modelos multivariados de asociación con las variables significativas mediante un modelo de cocientes de riesgos, y aquellas que presentaron algún grado de tendencia de acuerdo con el RR por encima de 1. Resultados: se recolectó la información de una muestra de 101 pacientes con SMC que recibieron atención en la unidad entre 2015 y 2021, 85.1% presentaron estenosis medular, 9.9% de pacientes requirieron VM, la mortalidad fue de 13.9%. El factor de riesgo asociado a muerte fue la VM con RR 3.6 (IC95%: 1.4-9.5); el factor con tendencia a VM fue ser mayor de 60, RR 5.4 (IC95%: 0.6-44.2). Otros factores evidenciaron tendencia a mortalidad o VM sin significancia estadística. Conclusiones: el factor de riesgo asociado a mortalidad fue VM, otros evidencian tendencia hacia mortalidad, como ser mayor de 60 años, hipertensión arterial, diabetes mellitus, estenosis medular por debajo de los 10 milímetros, más de 20 días de estancia hospitalaria y ser intervenidos más de 10 días posterior al accidente. La mortalidad en nuestra población se encuentra muy elevada en comparación con estudios internacionales previos. Conocer los factores de riesgo ayudaran a identificar a los pacientes con mayor riesgo de muerte o VM.

Benefits of Early Surgical Treatment for Patients with Multilevel Cervical Canal Stenosis of Acute Traumatic Central Cord Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, there exists considerable debate surrounding the optimal treatment approaches for different subtypes of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the benefits associated with conservative treatment and treatments with different surgical periods for patients diagnosed with acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS) and multilevel cervical canal stenosis (CCS). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, and 93 patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria in our hospital between 2015 and 2020 were followed for a minimum duration of 2 years. Among them, 30 patients (Group A) received conservative treatment, 18 patients (Group B) received early surgery (≤7 days), and 45 patients (Group C) received late surgery (>7 days). The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, and recovery rate (RR) were evaluated. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze prognostic determinants. Cost-utility analysis was performed based on the EQ-5D scale. RESULTS: The ASIA grade, JOA score, and RR of all three groups improved compared with the previous evaluation (P < 0.05). During follow-up, the ASIA grade, JOA score, and RR of Group B were all better than for Group A and Group C (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between Group A and C (P > 0.05). The EQ-5D scale in Group B was optimal at the last follow-up. The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) of Group A was the lowest, while that of Group B compared to Group A was less than the threshold of patients' willingness to pay. Age, initial ASIA grade, and treatment types significantly affected the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Both conservative and surgical treatments yield good results. Compared with patients who received conservative treatment and late surgery, patients who received early surgery had better clinical function and living quality. Despite the higher cost, early surgery is cost-effective when compared to conservative treatment. Younger age, initial better ASIA grade, and earlier surgery were associated with better prognosis.

Establishment of Central Cord Syndrome Model in C57BL/6J Mouse.

Animal models of central cord syndrome (CCS) could substantially benefit preclinical research. Identifiable anatomical pathways can give minimally invasive exposure approaches and reduce extra injury to experimental animals during operation, enabling the maintenance of consistent and stable anatomical morphology during experiments to minimize behavioral and histological differences between individuals to improve the reproducibility of experiments. In this study, the C6 level spinal cord was exposed using a spinal cord injury coaxial platform (SCICP) and combination with a minimally invasive technique. With the assistance of a vertebral stabilizator, we fixed the vertebrae and compressed the spinal cords of C57BL/6J mice with 5 g/mm2 and 10 g/mm2 weights with SCICP to induce different degrees of C6 spinal cord injury. In line with the previous description of CCS, the results reveal that the lesion in this model is concentrated in the gray matter around the central cord, enabling further research into CCS. Finally, histological results are provided as a reference for the readers.

Five-year mortality after traumatic central cord syndrome in Wales.

Aims: Traumatic central cord syndrome (CCS) typically follows a hyperextension injury and results in motor impairment affecting the upper limbs more than the lower, with occasional sensory impairment and urinary retention. Current evidence on mortality and long-term outcomes is limited. The primary aim of this study was to assess the five-year mortality of CCS, and to determine any difference in mortality between management groups or age. Methods: Patients aged ≥ 18 years with a traumatic CCS between January 2012 and December 2017 in Wales were identified. Patient demographics and data about injury, management, and outcome were collected. Statistical analysis was performed to assess mortality and between-group differences. Results: A total of 65 patients were identified (66.2% male (n = 43), mean age 63.9 years (SD 15.9)). At a minimum of five years' follow-up, 32.3% of CCS patients (n = 21) had died, of whom six (9.2%) had died within 31 days of their injury. Overall, 69.2% of patients (n = 45) had been managed conservatively. There was no significant difference in age between conservatively and surgically managed patients (p = 0.062). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no significant difference in mortality between patients managed conservatively and those managed surgically (p = 0.819). However, there was a significant difference in mortality between the different age groups (< 50 years vs 50 to 70 years vs > 70 years; p = 0.001). At five years' follow-up, 55.6% of the patient group aged > 70 years at time of injury had died (n = 15). Respiratory failure was the most common cause of death (n = 9; 42.9%). Conclusion: Almost one-third of patients with a traumatic CCS in Wales had died within five years of their injury. The type of management did not significantly affect mortality but their age at the time of injury did. Further work to assess the long-term functional outcomes of surviving patients is needed to generate more reliable prognostic information.

Central cord syndrome definitions, variations and limitations.

Central cord syndrome (CCS) is the most common, yet most controversial, among the different spinal cord injury (SCI) incomplete syndromes. Since its original description in 1954, many variations have been described while maintaining the core characteristic of disproportionate weakness in the upper extremities compared to the lower extremities. Several definitions have been proposed in an attempt to quantify this difference, including a widely accepted criterion of ≥10 motor points in favor of the lower extremities. Nevertheless, recent reports have recommended revisiting the terminology and criteria of CCS as existing definitions do not capture the entire essence of the syndrome. Due to methodological differences, the full extent of CCS is not known, and a large variation in prevalence has been described. This review classifies the different definitions of CCS and describes some inherent limitations, highlighting the need for universal quantifiable criteria.

Treatment of acute traumatic central cord syndrome: a score-based approach based on the literature.

PURPOSE: Acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS) accounts for up to 70% of incomplete spinal cord injuries, and modern improvements in surgical and anaesthetic techniques have given surgeons more treatment options for the ATCCS patient. We present a literature review of ATCCS, with the aim of elucidating the best treatment option for the varying ATCCS patient characteristics and profiles. We aim to synthesise the available literature into a simple-to-use format to aid in the decision-making process. METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science and CINAHL databases were searched for relevant studies and improvement in functional outcomes were calculated. To allow for direct comparison of functional outcomes, we chose to focus solely on studies which utilised the ASIA motor score and improvements in ASIA motor score. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies were included for review. There were a total of 749 patients, of which 564 were treated surgically and 185 were treated conservatively. There was a significantly higher average motor recovery percentage amongst surgically-treated patients as compared to conservatively treated patients (76.1% vs. 66.1%, p value = 0.04). There was no significant difference between the ASIA motor recovery percentage of patients treated with early surgery and delayed surgery (69.9 vs. 77.2, p value = 0.31). Delayed surgery after a trial of conservative management is also an appropriate treatment strategy for certain patients, and the presence of multiple comorbidities portend poor outcomes. We propose a score-based approach to decision making in ATCCS, by allocating a numerical score for the patient's clinical neurological condition, imaging findings on CT or MRI, history of cervical spondylosis and comorbidity profile. CONCLUSIONS: An individualised approach to each ATCCS patient, considering their unique characteristics will lead to the best outcomes, and the use of a simple scoring system, can aid clinicians in choosing the best treatment for ATCCS patients.

Prognostic and risk factors for the surgical efficacy of central spinal cord syndrome in patients with preexisting degenerative cervical spinal cord compression.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the prognostic and risk factors related to surgical treatment of central spinal cord syndrome (CSS) and to find out the optimal timing of operative management. METHODS: From January 2011 to January 2019, a consecutive series of 128 patients with CSS confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were retrospectively analyzed including their clinical records and radiologic data from a prospectively maintained database in a single center. RESULTS: According to the prognosis evaluated by the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score (AMS), and ASIA impairment scale (AIS) grade, the overall postoperative outcome was good. Finally, it was found that surgical timing, presence of myelopathy or not at baseline, AMS at admission, and compression ratio were independent factors affecting the prognosis. Surgery as soon as possible after the occurrence of CSS is still advocated. CONCLUSION: Cervical myelopathy at baseline, compression ratio, and AMS score on admission were independent prognostic factors for the surgical treatment of CSS. If surgical indications are clear, early surgical intervention should be actively considered.

Surgery on the Day of Admission Decreases Postoperative Complication Rates for Patients With Central Cord Syndrome: An Analysis of National Surgical Quality Improvement (NSQIP) Data From 2010 to 2020.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine what constitutes "early optimal timing" of surgical management of central cord syndrome (CCS) with respect to a reduction of medical complications. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Data varies on the optimal time for surgical treatment of CCS with some studies favoring early intervention and others advocating that surgery can or should be delayed for 2-6 weeks. METHODS: This IRB-approved study was a retrospective cross-sectional review of surgical management outcomes for patients diagnosed with CCS using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, which consists of anonymized medical record data from the year 2010 to 2020. Patient data included age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, current procedural terminology codes, length of stay, and postoperative complications. Patients were grouped into admission-day surgery, next-day surgery, and late-surgery groups. RESULTS: A total of 738 patients who underwent surgery to treat CCS were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2010 to 2020 and included in this study. Admission-day surgery compared with next-day surgery was associated with a decreased postoperative complication rate after multivariate analysis (odds ratio: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.28-0.97; P =0.0387) as well as shorter length of stay ( P <0.0001). Complication rates between the next-day-surgery cohort and late-surgery cohort did not differ after multivariate analysis (odds ratio: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.63-1.65; P =0.9451), but the length of stay was shorter for next-day surgery ( P <0.0001). Two-year rolling averages for the admission-day-surgery rate and next-day-surgery rate show a compound annual growth rate of 2.52% and 4.10%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted for surgical treatment of CCS, those who receive admission-day surgery have significantly reduced 30-day complication rates as well as shorter length of stays. Therefore, we advocate that "early surgery" should be defined as surgery on the day of admission and should occur in as timely a manner as possible. Prior studies, which define "early surgery" as within 24 hours might, unfortunately, fall short of reaching the optimal threshold for the reduction of 30-day medical complications associated with the treatment of patients with CCS.

Effectiveness of different surgical methods in the treatment of acute central cord syndrome without fractures and dislocations of the cervical spine.

BACKGROUND: Acute central cord syndrome (ACCS) without fractures or dislocations is the most common form of incomplete spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of different surgical methods in the treatment of acute central cord syndrome without fractures or dislocations of the cervical spine. METHODS: A total of 164 patients with ACCS without fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine treated in our hospital from May 2012 to October 2019 were recruited and assigned to study group A and study group B according to different treatment modalities, with 82 cases in each group. Study group A underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and study group B was treated with posterior cervical laminectomy. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification and motor scores of all cases at admission and at discharge were recorded, and the treatment outcomes of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the ASIA classification and ASIA motor scores between the two groups at admission (P> 0.05). One year after surgery, the ASIA motor scores and sensory scores were not statistically significant between the two groups (P> 0.05) but showed significant improvement compared to the preoperative scores (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and posterior cervical laminectomy can improve the ASIA classification, ASIA motor scores, and sensory scores of ACCS patients without fractures or dislocations of the cervical spine. Therefore, surgical methods should be adopted based on the patients' conditions.

The Central Cord Syndrome in Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Tumors: A 19th-Century Vignette from (Karl) Julius Vogel (1814-1880).

Between 1830 and 1850, (Karl) Julius Vogel was one of the most important German pathologists. He received his doctorate in medicine in 1838 from the University of Munich and habilitation in pathology in 1840. In 1846, he moved to the University of Giessen as a full professor of pathology. From 1855, he taught special pathology and therapy at the University of Halle and became director of the internal clinic. Vogel and Heinrich Adolph Karl Dittmar were the first clinicians to describe the symptoms and pathologic findings of the central cord syndrome in a cervical spine tumor.

Evolving Profile of Acute Spinal Cord Injury Demographics, Outcomes, and Surgical Treatment in North America: Analysis of a Prospective Multi-Center Dataset of 989 Patients.

Changes in demography and injury patterns have altered the profile and outcome of acute spinal cord injury (SCI) over time. This study sought to describe recent trends in epidemiology and early clinical outcomes using the multi-center North American Clinical Trial Network (NACTN) for Spinal Cord Injury Registry. All participants with blunt acute traumatic SCI (n = 782) were grouped into three five-year time intervals from 2005 to 2019 (2005-2009, 2010-2014, and 2015-2019). Baseline demographics, clinical scores, medical co-morbidities, as well as early clinical outcomes were extracted. Categorical and continuous variables were analyzed to determine between-group differences. Subgroup analysis was performed for participants <50 and ≥50 years of age. Over the duration of the study period, there was an increase in age at presentation (p = 0.0077) as well as a greater incidence of falls as the mechanism of injury. Participants who were ≥50 years of age were more likely to sustain incomplete SCI (<0.0003) and central cord syndrome (< 0.0001). In the most recent period (2015-2019), a greater proportion of NACTN participants underwent surgery within 24 h of injury (63% vs. 41% vs. 41%, p = 0.0001). There was a statistically significant increase in cardiac complications (p < 0.0001) and decrease in pulmonary complications (p < 0.0001) during the study period. Data from the NACTN registry shows that the age of participants with acute SCI is increasing, falls have become the major mechanism of injury, and central cord injury is becoming increasingly prevalent. While early surgical intervention for acute SCI is more common in recent years, cardiac complications are more prevalent while pulmonary complications are less prevalent.

Early surgical intervention alleviates sensory symptoms following acute traumatic central cord syndrome.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of early versus delayed surgery on sensory abnormalities in acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS). METHODS: Pressure pain threshold (PPT), temporal summation (TS), conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and pain assessments were performed in 72 ATCCS patients (early vs. delayed surgical treatment: 32 vs. 40) and 72 healthy subjects in this ambispective cohort study. These examinations, along with mechanical detection threshold (MDT) and disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH), were assessed at 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Preoperatively, more delayed surgical patients had neuropathic pain below level compared with early surgical patients (P < 0.05). Both early and delayed surgical patients showed reduced PPT in common painful areas and increased TS, while reduced CPM only existed in the latter (P < 0.05). Reduced PPT in all tested areas, along with abnormalities in TS and CPM, was observed in patients with durations over 3 months. Both incidences and intensities of pain and pain sensitivities in common painful areas were reduced in both treatment groups postoperatively, but only early surgical treatment improved the CPM and TS. Follow-up analysis demonstrated a higher MDT and lower PPT in hand, greater TS, greater DASH, lower pain intensities and higher incidence of dissatisfaction involving sensory symptoms in delayed surgical patients than in early surgical patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Central hypersensitivity may be involved in the persistence of sensory symptoms in ATCCS, and this augmented central processing may commence in the early stage. Early surgical treatment may reverse dysfunction of endogenous pain modulation, thus reducing the risk of central sensitization and alleviating sensory symptoms.

Acute Traumatic Myelopathy: Rethinking Central Cord Syndrome.

Central cord syndrome (CCS) is an incomplete spinal cord injury that consists of both sensory and motor changes of the upper and lower extremities. CCS most commonly occurs after trauma to the cervical spine leading to acute neurological changes. Despite being the most common incomplete spinal cord injury with the best outcomes, optimal treatment remains controversial. Although clinical practice has shifted from primarily conservative management to early surgical intervention, many questions remain unanswered and treatment remains varied. One of the most limiting aspects of CCS remains the diagnosis itself. CCS, by definition, is a syndrome with a very specific pattern of neurological deficits. In practice and in the literature, CCS has been used to describe a spectrum of neurological conditions and traumatic morphologies. Establishing clarity will allow for more accurate decision making by clinicians involved in the care of these injuries. The authors emphasize that a more precise term for the clinical condition in question is acute traumatic myelopathy: an acute cervical cord injury in the setting of a stable spine with either congenital and/or degenerative stenosis.

Early vs Late Surgical Decompression for Central Cord Syndrome.

Importance: The optimal clinical management of central cord syndrome (CCS) remains unclear; yet this is becoming an increasingly relevant public health problem in the face of an aging population. Objective: To provide a head-to-head comparison of the neurologic and functional outcomes of early (<24 hours) vs late (≥24 hours) surgical decompression for CCS. Design, Setting, and Participants: Patients who underwent surgery for CCS (lower extremity motor score [LEMS] - upper extremity motor score [UEMS] ≥ 5) were included in this propensity score-matched cohort study. Data were collected from December 1991 to March 2017, and the analysis was performed from March 2020 to January 2021. This study identified patients with CCS from 3 international multicenter studies with data on the timing of surgical decompression in spinal cord injury. Participants were included if they had a documented baseline neurologic examination performed within 14 days of injury. Participants were eligible if they underwent surgical decompression for CCS. Exposures: Early surgery was compared with late surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures: Propensity scores were calculated as the probability of undergoing early compared with late surgery using the logit method and adjusting for relevant confounders. Propensity score matching was performed in a 1:1 ratio by an optimal-matching technique. The primary end point was motor recovery (UEMS, LEMS, American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] motor score [AMS]) at 1 year. Secondary end points were Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor score and complete independence in each FIM motor domain at 1 year. Results: The final study cohort consisted of 186 patients with CCS. The early-surgery group included 93 patients (mean [SD] age, 47.8 [16.8] years; 66 male [71.0%]), and the late-surgery group included 93 patients (mean [SD] age, 48.0 [15.5] years; 75 male [80.6%]). Early surgical decompression resulted in significantly improved recovery in upper limb (mean difference [MD], 2.3; 95% CI, 0-4.5; P = .047), but not lower limb (MD, 1.1; 95% CI, -0.8 to 3.0; P = .30), motor function. In an a priori-planned subgroup analysis, outcomes were comparable with early or late decompressive surgery in patients with ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) grade D injury. However, in patients with AIS grade C injury, early surgery resulted in significantly greater recovery in overall motor score (MD, 9.5; 95% CI, 0.5-18.4; P = .04), owing to gains in both upper and lower limb motor function. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found early surgical decompression to be associated with improved recovery in upper limb motor function at 1 year in patients with CCS. Treatment paradigms for CCS should be redefined to encompass early surgical decompression as a neuroprotective therapy.

Surgical Efficacy and Prognostic Factors for Acute Traumatic Central Cord Syndrome Without Fracture and Dislocation.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment of acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS) without fracture and dislocation and explore surgical timing and factors influencing postoperative recovery of spinal cord function. We retrospectively collected the general and clinical data of 112 patients with ATCCS (American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale grade C or D) without fracture and dislocation who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2013 to August 2019. We used statistical methods to evaluate the safety of the operation and explore the timing of surgery and the factors influencing postoperative recovery of spinal cord function. The mean age of the 112 patients was 60.64±12.91 years. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and the American Spinal Injury Association motor score (AMS) of the 112 patients were significantly higher at final follow-up than at admission. No significant difference in recovery of spinal cord function was seen between the early operation group (≤4 days) and the late operation group (>4 days). Comparison of patients with a good prognosis vs a poor prognosis showed that age, intrahand muscle strength at admission, maximum spinal cord compression, maximum canal compromise, length of high-intensity signal in the spinal cord on sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, AMS, and American Spinal Injury Association injury grade D/C at admission had a significant effect on recovery of spinal cord function. Surgical treatment of ATCCS without fracture and dislocation is safe and effective. Age, admission AMS and American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale score, intrinsic hand muscle strength, maximum canal compromise, maximum spinal cord compression, and length of high-intensity signal in the spinal cord can be used to predict postoperative recovery of spinal cord function. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(6):325-332.].