An Update on Spinal Cord Injury and Current Management

» Spinal cord injury is associated with increased lifelong cost and decreased life expectancy. » Current treatment guidelines have been limited to studies of small effect sizes and limited availability of randomized control trials. » Recovery is best correlated with the initial American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale grade with A and B less likely to recover regarding ambulation as compared with C and D grades. » Surgical intervention within less than 24 hours, especially in the cervical spine, has been associated with some motor improvement. » The use of mean arterial pressure goals and steroids to maintain perfusion and decrease secondary injury requires further study to elucidate clearer evidence-based results.