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

Authors

Michael G. Fehlings, Toronto Western Hospital; University of TorontoFollow
Lindsay A. Tetreault, Toronto Western Hospital; University College CorkFollow
Jefferson R. Wilson, University of Toronto; St Michael’s HospitalFollow
Brian K. Kwon, Vancouver General HospitalFollow
Anthony S. Burns, University of TorontoFollow
Allan R. Martin, Toronto Western HospitalFollow
Gregory Hawryluk, University of Utah
James S. Harrop, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2017

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the author’s final published version in Global Spine Journal

Volume 7, Issue 3 Supplement, September 2017, Pages 84S-94S

The published version is available at DOI: 10.1177/2192568217703387. Copyright © Fehlings et al.

Abstract

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. © 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.

Recommended Citation

Fehlings, Michael G.; Tetreault, Lindsay A.; Wilson, Jefferson R.; Kwon, Brian K.; Burns, Anthony S.; Martin, Allan R.; Hawryluk, Gregory; and Harrop, James S., "A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Introduction, Rationale, and Scope" (2017). Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers. Paper 89.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/neurosurgeryfp/89

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