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Explore the evidence regarding steroid use in acute spinal cord injury cases, assessing benefits and risks based on population data and clinical trials. Guidelines recommend early administration for possible motor function recovery.
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Acute Spinal Cord Trauma Robert L Wears, MD, MS Practice Guidelines: A Pan-American Symposium Santiago de Chile 7 October 2003
Critical Question • 20 yr old male fell 5 meters • C4-5 fracture – dislocation • Motor deficit • Should he be given steroids? • What is the evidence for benefit? • What is the evidence for harm?
Epidemiology • ~ 40 per million population annually • Typically • Young (20 – 35) • Male • Major disability • Shortened life expectancy • Major cost
Study Selection • Randomized or quasi-randomized trials • Patients admitted for acute spinal cord injury • Exclude nerve root only, cauda equina syndrome • Outcome measures • Recovery of motor function (6 weeks, 6 months, 1 yr) (0 – 70 scale | 14 muscles 0-5) • Mortality
Efficacy (< 8 hrs) *pooled at either 6 mo or 1 yr
24 Vs 48 Hours Treatment Mean (SD)
Safety • Mortality, wound infection, GI bleed • No significant difference • Wide CI • Mortality RR .24 to 1.25 • Acute trauma studies low powered • Sauerland 2000 systematic review • 51 trials (including back surgery), > 2000 pts • No significant difference mortality, GI bleed, infection
Conclusion • Benefit is modest at best • 5 – 8 points on 70 point scale • Class B • Minimum clinically important benefit undefined • Must be given early to be effective • No convincing evidence of harm • Low power limits safety assessment