Survey of the neurological evolution of 300 spinal cord injuries seen within 24 hours after injury

Abstract

Abstract. A grouped Franco-Swiss study on 300 cases of spinal cord injury gives an overall view of the neurological evolution of the spinal cord injuries or cauda equina lesions. The importance of initial and repeated examinations is stressed. Sensory sparing distant to the lesion is of great importance, especially that of pain. A great number of patients showing neurological progress was observed at the end of the first month and at the beginning of the following three months. The influence of steroids is tentatively discussed. No complications due to this therapy have been observed on the condition that their use is very limited in time. Statistically speaking, there has been no difference of evolution in the two groups, the majority having been treated orthopedically.

Axonal degeneration and demyelination following traumatic spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The reason for this difference is not known and further studies are needed. However, studies show that in cervical region injuries, more recovery is observed compared to thoracic region injuries (65)(66)(67)(68)(69), which might be due to the number of live and active axons being present in cervical regions following injury.…”

Effect of methylprednisolone on motor function and spinal cord blood flow after spinal cord compression in rats

“…Treatment with methylprednisolone (MP) has been found to diminish both the disturbance in spinal cord function and the extent of the tissue damage after spinalcordinjuryincats(13,14),dogs (15), and monkeys (16). However, in large multicenter trials in humans no beneficial effect of MP on the neurological outcome has been observed (17,18). This indicates that the animal models used do not optimally mimic the different pathophysiological components that are present in the clinical situation ic man.…”