EFFICACY OF SURGICAL-TREATMENT IN TRAUMATIC CENTRAL CORD SYNDROME

BACKGROUND Controversy surrounds the treatment of traumatic central co rd syndrome (TCCS), as there are strong advocates for nonsurgical trea tment for most patients. However, conservative treatment has been show n to yield a longer period of discomfort from pain and weakness in cer tain cases. METHODS In a retrospective review of 114 patients presenti ng with acute or chronic TCCS from 1988-94, four different age groups were separately observed under different treatments. Motor and sensory recovery were assessed. RESULTS Better results were achieved in young er patients, with or without radiographic abnormalities, and in patien ts with clinically correlated encroaching cord lesions who received ea rly surgical decompression. CONCLUSIONS Surgical intervention for TCCS must be addressed with careful clinical and radiographic survey. Remo val of offending lesions in the subacute period results in significant motor and sensory improvement in short-term and long-term follow-up. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.