Clinical study of time limit for surgical decompression in acute spinal cord injury

Objective To investigate the effect of surgical decompression at different time points on the recovery of neurological function in patients after acute spinal cord injury.Methods All of 89 patients with thoracic vertebral fracture combined with incomplete spinal cord injury patients admitted between January 2005 and December 2009 were reviewed.In accordance with the surgical decompression time limits,the patients were divided into three groups: group A,24 hours after injury,surgical decompression(25 cases);group B,1～3 d after injury,surgical decompression(47 cases);group C,3～7 days after injury,surgical decompression(17 cases).According to ASIA impairment scale,the nerve function before and 1 year after operation were compared among the three groups of patients.The efficacy of decompression time was analyzed.Results There were no significant difference in ASIA impairment scale among the three group patients before treatment.The ASIA impairment scale of three groups improved after treatment the scale of patients in group A was higher than group B and C(P 0.05)while the scale in patients of group B was higher than group C(P 0.05).Conclusion Surgical decompression can improve neurological function in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.The sooner the surgery is performed,the better the recovery of neurological function.