We have located links that may give you full text access.
Clinical Trial
Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial
Neurologic outcome of early versus late surgery for cervical spinal cord injury.
Spine 1997 November 15
STUDY DESIGN: A prospective analysis evaluating neurologic outcome after early versus late surgery for cervical spinal cord trauma.
OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to determine whether neurologic and functional outcome is improved in traumatic cervical spinal cord-injured patients (C3-T1, American Spinal Injury Association grades A-D) who had early surgery (<72 hours after spinal cord injury) compared with those patients who had late surgery (>5 days after spinal cord injury).
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There is considerable controversy as to the appropriate timing of surgical decompression and stabilization for cervical spinal cord trauma. There have been numerous retrospective studies, but no prospective studies, to determine whether neurologic outcome is best after early versus late surgical treatment for cervical spinal cord injury.
METHODS: Patients meeting appropriate inclusion criteria were randomized to an early (<72 hours after spinal cord injury) or late (>5 days after spinal cord injury) surgical treatment protocol. The neurologic and functional outcomes were recorded from the acute hospital admission to the most recent follow-up.
RESULTS: Comparison of the two groups showed no significant difference in length of acute postoperative intensive care stay, length of inpatient rehabilitation, or improvement in American Spinal Injury Association grade or motor score between early (mean, 1.8 days) versus late (mean, 16.8 days) surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal no significant neurologic benefit when cervical spinal cord decompression after trauma is performed less than 72 hours after injury (mean, 1.8 days) as opposed to waiting longer than 5 days (mean, 16.8 days).
OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to determine whether neurologic and functional outcome is improved in traumatic cervical spinal cord-injured patients (C3-T1, American Spinal Injury Association grades A-D) who had early surgery (<72 hours after spinal cord injury) compared with those patients who had late surgery (>5 days after spinal cord injury).
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There is considerable controversy as to the appropriate timing of surgical decompression and stabilization for cervical spinal cord trauma. There have been numerous retrospective studies, but no prospective studies, to determine whether neurologic outcome is best after early versus late surgical treatment for cervical spinal cord injury.
METHODS: Patients meeting appropriate inclusion criteria were randomized to an early (<72 hours after spinal cord injury) or late (>5 days after spinal cord injury) surgical treatment protocol. The neurologic and functional outcomes were recorded from the acute hospital admission to the most recent follow-up.
RESULTS: Comparison of the two groups showed no significant difference in length of acute postoperative intensive care stay, length of inpatient rehabilitation, or improvement in American Spinal Injury Association grade or motor score between early (mean, 1.8 days) versus late (mean, 16.8 days) surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal no significant neurologic benefit when cervical spinal cord decompression after trauma is performed less than 72 hours after injury (mean, 1.8 days) as opposed to waiting longer than 5 days (mean, 16.8 days).
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Regional anesthesia in the patient receiving antithrombotic or thrombolytic therapy: American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Evidence-Based Guidelines (fifth edition).Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2025 January 29
Intensive care unit acquired weakness and physical rehabilitation in the ICU.BMJ : British Medical Journal 2025 January 27
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2025 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app