The long-term outcome after central cord syndrome - A study of the naturalhistory

We studied 32 patients with central cord syndrome VV who were managed conse rvatively. Six were under 50 years of age (group 1), 16 between 50 and 70 y ears (group 2) and ten over 70 years (group 3), At the time of discharge all patients in group 1 could walk independently a nd had good bladder control compared with 11 (69%) and 14 (88%) in group 2 and four (40%) and two (20%) in group 3, respectively At follow-up after a mean of 8.6 years (4 to 15), ten patients had died lea ving 22 in the study. All those in group I were alive, could walk independe ntly and had bladder control. In group 2, 13 were alive of whom ten (77%) c ould walk independently and nine (69%) had bladder control. In group 3 only three were alive of whom only one was independent and none had bladder con trol, Function at discharge as measured by the ASIA motor scoring system was usua lly maintained or improved at follow-up, but patients over 70 years of age at injury did poorly.