Complications of spinal surgery in acute spinal cord injury

Despite an increasing realisation that patients with acute spinal cord injuries require a multidisciplinary approach for their management, which can only be satisfactorily provided in spinal injuries units, these units are still not being used to their full potential in the United Kingdom. Not surprisingly, the initial admission of patients to other hospitals has inevitably led to delays in transfer to such units, with a high incidence of complications. The results of spinal surgery were studied in 420 consecutive patients with spinal cord injury admitted to the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre, Salisbury. Complications were more frequent in patients undergoing spinal surgery before transfer to the centre. Furthermore, the longer the delay in transfer, the higher the incidence of pressure sores. Suggestions are made as to how complications can be avoided in future.