Injuries of the cervical spinal cord. The Ga-Rankuwa Hospital experience

A retrospective analysis of 40 cervical spinal cord-injured patients showed that the commonest cause of injury was a motor vehicle accident (60%). C5 - 6 was the level most commonly injured. Eight patients had complete and 32 incomplete neurological lesions. Surgery was the elective treatment in 78%. Surgical treatment did not result in more rapid mobilisation out of bed nor did it significantly reduce the period of hospitalisation, compared with non-surgical management. No patient deteriorated neurologically, 5 remained unchanged and 35 improved. Twenty-one patients eventually walked.