Neurotrauma

Apuzzo, MLJ. (2002). Pharmacological therapy after acute cervical spinal cord injury. Neurosurgery, 50(3), Supplement, 63-72.

Of all the articles in the supplement of Neurosurgery this topic remains the most controversial. This is again an evidenced based approach for the use of methylprednisolone in the management of acute spinal cord injury. If you are looking to change or modify you existing spinal cord injury protocol this is a must reading. In this article methylprednisolone is recommended only as an option in the treatment of patients with acute spinal cord injuries that should be undertaken with the knowledge that the evidence suggesting harmful side effects is more consistent than any suggestion of clinical benefit.

Hadley, M.N. (2002). Radiographic assessment of the cervical spine in asymptomatic trauma patients. Neurosurgery, 50(3), Supplement, 30-35.

Radiological evaluation of the cervical spine of every trauma patient is costly and results in significant radiation exposure to a large number of patients, few of whom will have a spinal injury. The purpose of this review is to define the necessary studies in asymptomatic trauma patients.

Hadley, M.N. (2002). Cervical spine immobilization before admission to the hospital. Neurosurgery, 50(3), Supplement, 7-17.

This article is one in a series of evidenced based medicine articles on Guidelines for the Management of Acute Cervical Spine and Spinal Cord Injuries that was published in the Journal of Neurosurgery in 2002. Anyone looking to develop or consider changing pre-hospital immobilization protocols should review this article.