Evaluation of Feasibility and Treatment Efficacy of Immediate Spinal Cord Decompression for Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and treatment efficacy of early emergency surgical decompression and stabilization for acute cervical spinal cord injury. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury (June 2000～June 2007) were retrospectively reviewed,in which 22 cases underwent emergency operation (≤24 h after spinal cord injury) and 46 late operation (24h after spinal cord injury). Detailed materials including general data,neurological function (in admission and in the most recent follow-up),complications,intensive care time and hospital stay were collected and statistically analyzed in all the patients. Results: There was no significant differences in general data,distribution of the injury level,the operation method,follow-up time and neurological functions at admission between two groups. In the emergency operation group,the neurological functions were similar to those in the late operation group,but the postoperative complications were less common and the intensive care time and hospital stay were shorter. Conclusions: Immediate spinal cord decompression and stabilization are feasible and safe for patients with cervical spinal cord injury. The early intervention can effectively decrease the postoperative complications. However,it shows no significant effects on neurologic recovery.