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Retrospective study.The importance of attenuating the cardiovascular autoregulatory disturbances accompanying acute spinal cord injury (SCI) has long been recognised. This report assembles SCI emergency service data and correlates cardiovascular parameters to preserved functional neuroanatomy.The nascent nature of evidence-based reporting of prehospital cardiovascular autoregulatory disturbances in SCI indicates the need to assemble more information.SCI data for24 h were extracted from ambulance and hospital records. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated. The International Standard for Neurological Classification of SCI (ISNCSCI) evaluates the primary outcome of motor incomplete injury (grades C/D) at acute presentation. Logistic regression was adjusted for multiple confounders that were expected to influence the odds of grade C/D.A cohort of 99 acute SCI cases was retained; mean (SD) age 40.7±20.5 yrs, 88 male, 84 tetraplegic, 65 Grades A/B (motor complete injury), triage time 2±1.6 hrs. The lowest recorded prehospital MAP (mean [SD] 77.9±19, range 45-145 mmHg) approached the nadir for adequate organ perfusion. Thirty-four (52%) grade A/B and 10 (30%) C/D cases had MAP readings85 mmHg. In data adjusted for age, injury level, and triage time a 5 mmHg increase in the lowest MAP value was associated with a 34% increase in the odds of having motor incomplete injury at acute presentation (adjusted OR=1.34; 95% CI 1.11, 1.61; P=0.002).An important observation with implications for timely and selective cardiovascular resuscitation during SCI prehospital care involves significant negative associations between the depth of systemic hypotension and preserved functional neuroanatomy. Regardless of the mechanism, our confounder-adjusted logistic regression model extends in-hospital evidence and provides a conceptual bedside-bench framework for future investigations.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to (1) determine the timing of surgery for traumatic thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI) between 2010 and 2014 and (2) identify major delays in the process of care from accident scene to surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Early spinal surgery may promote neurological recovery and reduce acute complications after TLSCI; however, it is difficult to achieve due to logistical issues and the frequent presence of other nonlife-threatening injuries. METHODS: Data were extracted from the medical records of 46 cases of acute traumatic TLSCI (AIS level T1-L1) aged between 15 and 70 years. Patients with life-threatening injuries, not requiring spinal surgery or with poor general health, were excluded. RESULTS: The median time to surgery was 27 hours [interquartile range (IQR): 20-43 hours] and improved from 27 hours in 2010 to 22 hours in 2014. Cases admitted via a pre-surgical hospital had a longer median time to surgery than direct surgical hospital admissions (28 vs. 24 hours, respectively). The median time from completion of radiological investigations to surgery was 18 hours, suggesting that theater access and organization of a surgical team were the major factors contributing to surgical delay. Number of vertebral levels fractured (≥5) and upper thoracic level of injury (T1-8) were also found to be associated with surgical delay. CONCLUSION: Earlier spinal surgery in TLSCI would be facilitated by direct surgical hospital admission and improved access to the operating theater and surgical teams. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.