scholarly journals A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Introduction, Rationale, and Scope

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 84S-94S ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Fehlings ◽  
Lindsay A. Tetreault ◽  
Jefferson R. Wilson ◽  
Brian K. Kwon ◽  
Anthony S. Burns ◽  
...  

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic event that results in disturbances to normal sensory, motor, or autonomic function and ultimately affects a patient’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. The management of patients with SCI has drastically evolved over the past century as a result of increasing knowledge on injury mechanisms, disease pathophysiology, and the role of surgery. There still, however, remain controversial areas surrounding available management strategies for the treatment of SCI, including the use of corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone sodium succinate, the optimal timing of surgical intervention, the type and timing of anticoagulation prophylaxis, the role of magnetic resonance imaging, and the type and timing of rehabilitation. This lack of consensus has prevented the standardization of care across treatment centers and among the various disciplines that encounter patients with SCI. The objective of this guideline is to form evidence-based recommendations for these areas of controversy and outline how to best manage patients with SCI. The ultimate goal of these guidelines is to improve outcomes and reduce morbidity in patients with SCI by promoting standardization of care and encouraging clinicians to make evidence-informed decisions.

Author(s):  
Jiaqi Bi ◽  
Jianxiong Shen ◽  
Chong Chen ◽  
Zheng Li ◽  
Haining Tan ◽  
...  

1970 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-172
Author(s):  
NK Karn ◽  
BP Shrestha ◽  
GP Khanal ◽  
R Rijal ◽  
P Chaudhary ◽  
...  

Objective: To see the role of methyleprednisolone succinate in the management of acute spinal cord injury. Methods: A randomized control trial was done including the patients with acute spinal cord injury. They were divided into age and gender matched two groups. Patients with presence of active infection, associated open fracture, those on long term steroid and those who did not give consent to participate in the trial were excluded. One group received methyleprednisolone succinate within 8 hours of injury and another group did not receive the drug. Both the groups were managed nonoperatively. The neurological status of the patients was assessed at presentation, once spinal shock was over, at 6th week and 6th month and after one year according to ASIA scoring. Frankel grading was also assessed in every follow up. Conclusion: Methylprednisolone succinct prevents secondary cord injury to a great extent and hence its administration within 8 hours of injury results in a better functional (motor and sensory) outcome. Keywords: acute spinal cord injury; methyleprednisolone succinate DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v9i3.5585   HR 2011; 9(3): 168-172


2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. E14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory W. J. Hawryluk ◽  
James Rowland ◽  
Brian K. Kwon ◽  
Michael G. Fehlings

Over the past 2 decades, advances in understanding the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) have stimulated the recent emergence of several therapeutic strategies that are being examined in Phase I/II clinical trials. Ten randomized controlled trials examining methylprednisolone sodium succinate, tirilizad mesylate, monosialotetrahexosylganglioside, thyrotropin releasing hormone, gacyclidine, naloxone, and nimodipine have been completed. Although the primary outcomes in these trials were laregely negative, a secondary analysis of the North American Spinal Cord Injury Study II demonstrated that when administered within 8 hours of injury, methylprednisolone sodium succinate was associated with modest clinical benefits, which need to be weighed against potential complications. Thyrotropin releasing hormone (Phase II trial) and monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (Phase II and III trials) also showed some promise, but we are unaware of plans for future trials with these agents. These studies have, however, yielded many insights into the conduct of clinical trials for SCI. Several current or planned clinical trials are exploring interventions such as early surgical decompression (Surgical Treatment of Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study) and electrical field stimulation, neuroprotective strategies such as riluzole and minocycline, the inactivation of myelin inhibition by blocking Nogo and Rho, and the transplantation of various cellular substrates into the injured cord. Unfortunately, some experimental and poorly characterized SCI therapies are being offered outside a formal investigational structure, which will yield findings of limited scientific value and risk harm to patients with SCI who are understandably desperate for any intervention that might improve their function. Taken together, recent advances suggest that optimism for patients and clinicians alike is justified, as there is real hope that several safe and effective therapies for SCI may become available over the next decade.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1401-1411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Bozzo ◽  
Judith Marcoux ◽  
Mohan Radhakrishna ◽  
Julie Pelletier ◽  
Benoit Goulet

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 203S-211S ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Fehlings ◽  
Jefferson R. Wilson ◽  
Lindsay A. Tetreault ◽  
Bizhan Aarabi ◽  
Paul Anderson ◽  
...  

Introduction: The objective of this guideline is to outline the appropriate use of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) in patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to address key questions related to the use of MPSS in acute SCI. A multidisciplinary Guideline Development Group used this information, in combination with their clinical expertise, to develop recommendations for the use of MPSS. Based on GRADE (Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation), a strong recommendation is worded as “we recommend,” whereas a weaker recommendation is indicated by “we suggest.” Results: The main conclusions from the systematic review included the following: (1) there were no differences in motor score change at any time point in patients treated with MPSS compared to those not receiving steroids; (2) when MPSS was administered within 8 hours of injury, pooled results at 6- and 12-months indicated modest improvements in mean motor scores in the MPSS group compared with the control group; and (3) there was no statistical difference between treatment groups in the risk of complications. Our recommendations were: (1) “We suggest not offering a 24-hour infusion of high-dose MPSS to adult patients who present after 8 hours with acute SCI”; (2) “We suggest a 24-hour infusion of high-dose MPSS be offered to adult patients within 8 hours of acute SCI as a treatment option”; and (3) “We suggest not offering a 48-hour infusion of high-dose MPSS to adult patients with acute SCI.” Conclusions: These guidelines should be implemented into clinical practice to improve outcomes and reduce morbidity in SCI patients.


2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia Cruz-Antonio ◽  
Francisco Javier Flores-Murrieta ◽  
Patricia García-Löpez ◽  
Gabriel Guízar-Sahagún ◽  
Gilberto Castañeda-Hernández

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