Surgical Neurology International, 2011 · DOI: 10.4103/2152-7806.90027 · Published: November 19, 2011
This study compares surgery and non-operative care for spine injury patients with complete loss of function. It looks at factors like recovery time and costs. The study found that patients who had surgery took longer to recover, stayed in the hospital longer, had more complications, and treatment cost significantly more. The study suggests non-operative management should be the primary approach for complete SCI, reserving surgery for specific issues like pain or deformity.
Developing countries with limited resources should prioritize non-operative management for complete SCI patients to reduce costs and improve outcomes.
Spine surgeons should reconsider the routine use of surgical stabilization in complete SCI patients, opting for non-operative care unless specific indications arise.
Future studies should focus on identifying specific subgroups of complete SCI patients who may benefit from surgical intervention.