Scientific Reports, 2020 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64944-y · Published: May 22, 2020
This study investigated the effects of local cooling (hypothermia) and rewarming on the injured spinal cord in five patients with acute spinal cord injuries. The researchers monitored pressure, metabolism, and inflammation at the injury site. The study found that while cooling reduced inflammation, rewarming led to increased swelling, reduced blood flow, and increased inflammation in the spinal cord. The study was stopped early due to wound infections. The authors concluded that hypothermia might be beneficial for reducing inflammation after spinal cord injury, but rewarming reverses these benefits. They caution against using hypothermia-rewarming without careful monitoring.
The study urges caution when performing trials of hypothermia for TSCI without simultaneous monitoring from the injury site.
The study highlights the increased risk of wound infections associated with hypothermia-rewarming in TSCI patients, suggesting the need for preventative measures.
The findings suggest the need for personalized treatment strategies based on real-time monitoring of the spinal cord's physiological and metabolic responses to hypothermia and rewarming.