Managing acute spinal cord injuries

Compend Contin Educ Vet. 2008 Sep;30(9):496-504; quiz 504, 506.

Abstract

Acute spinal cord injuries commonly seen in veterinary patients include vascular, compressive, and concussive injuries. Vascular lesions, or infracts, are usually caused by fibrocartilagenous emboli. Concussive and compressive injuries have a variety of pathologies, including intervertebral disk disease, fractures, and luxations (dislocations) of the vertebral column. Although considerable controversy exists over the most appropriate way to manage acute spinal cord injuries, early surgical intervention or decompression remains the best treatment option in managing acute compressive injuries in veterinary patients. High-dose methylprednisolone sodium succinate, an established treatment in human medicine, is falling out of favor because studies have shown little therapeutuc benefit and severe adverse effects.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Cats / injuries*
  • Decompression, Surgical / methods
  • Decompression, Surgical / veterinary*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dogs / injuries*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Pain / prevention & control
  • Pain / veterinary*
  • Prognosis
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / diagnosis
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / surgery
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / therapy
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / veterinary*
  • Spinal Fractures / diagnosis
  • Spinal Fractures / surgery
  • Spinal Fractures / therapy
  • Spinal Fractures / veterinary*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones