Analysis of prehospital care and emergency room treatment of patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury: a retrospective cohort study on the implementation of current guidelines.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the current study were (i) to analyze prehospital and emergency room treatment of patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and (ii) to analyze whether recommendations given by the current guidelines are implemented.

SETTING: German level I trauma center.

METHODS: All patients suffering from traumatic SCI who were initially surgically treated in our hospital in the period from January 2008 to December 2013 were included in this study. Available data documented as a standard procedure in our trauma center included patient's demographic and medical information, as well as trauma mechanisms, cause of injury, neurological diagnosis and detailed clinical information about prehospital and early hospital management procedures. Retrospectively, statistical analysis was performed to describe spinal immobilization rates, transportation times and methylprednisolone administration.

RESULTS: A total of 133 patients (mean age: 50.5±21.2 years) met the inclusion criteria. Immobilization was performed on 69.9% of the patients with traumatic SCI. From 60 patients suffering from cervical traumatic SCI, 47 patients had a cervical collar. Full immobilization was only performed in 34 of these 60 patients. Mean time from accident site to emergency room was 61.3±28.7 min. In 25 out of the 133 patients included in the current study, early surgery was not possible because of insufficient circulation and/or increased intracranial pressure. A total of 108 patients could be prepared for early surgery within 322.8±254.1 min after the accident.

CONCLUSION: The current study shows that recommendations of the current literature and guidelines are mostly followed.