Pharmacologic and Acute Management of Spinal Cord Injury in Adults and Children

This article reviews current management strategies for acute spinal cord injury (SCI), including both established and investigational therapies. It emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, early intervention, and preventing secondary injury to the spinal cord. The review covers initial evaluation, imaging, surgical and non-surgical management, and specific complications like spinal shock and autonomic dysreflexia.

• 1
  Ultra-early surgical intervention (≤ 8 h post-SCI) may offer a potential functional outcome benefit.
• 2
  Studies suggest potentially serious complications with limited benefit from intravenous methylprednisolone.
• 3
  There are currently no evidence-based recommendations for pathomechanistically targeted therapies for SCI.