Assessment and management of acute spinal cord injury: From point of injury to rehabilitation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition with limited effective treatments, but the field is advancing with new therapies and discoveries. Early intervention, including specialized care, decompressive surgery, and treatments like blood pressure augmentation, is crucial for improving long-term outcomes in SCI. Preventing chronic complications such as respiratory issues, bladder dysfunction, and pressure sores, along with early physical rehabilitation, is essential in managing SCI.

• 1
  Early surgical decompression (within 24 hours of injury) increases the odds of neurological improvement in patients with cervical SCI.
• 2
  Maintaining mean arterial pressure (MAP) at ≥85–90 mmHg for 7 days post-injury improves long-term outcomes.
• 3
  Emerging therapies such as riluzole, minocycline, stem cell transplantation, and functional electrical stimulation are actively in clinical trials and show promise for improving functional recovery.