Fundamentals of Acute Care for Patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Fundamentals of acute care for patients with traumatic spinal cord injury include initial evaluation, cervical collar clearance, diagnostic imaging, spinal injury classification systems, closed reduction of fracture-dislocation injuries, corticosteroid therapy, hemodynamic management, timing of decompressive surgery, spinal cord perfusion pressure monitoring, lumbar intrathecal cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. In this review, modern management paradigms are highlighted in the context of published clinical practice guidelines from the American Association of Neurologic Surgeons/Congress of Neurologic Surgeons, AO Spine-Praxis, the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Programs, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians.