The Importance of Early Decompression in Spinal Cord Injuries

After a traumatic cervical spinal cord injury, the surgeon's role is to decompress the spinal cord and provide stabilization. Delaying surgery in these patients is associated with increased pulmonary complications, de-cubidous ulcers and DVT. Multiple studies have demonstrated that early decompression is safe and is associated with the greatest chance for neurologic recovery. Prior studies advocated for the use of corticosteroids to minimize secondary injury in these patients. However, this has largely been abandoned due to the potential risk of steroids and the lack of compelling evidence demonstrating improved neurological outcomes.