comparison between therapeutic effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and methylprednisolone in treatment of patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury

Background and Aim: Spinal cord injury [SCI] is one of the worst kinds of traumatic injuries with remarkable social and economic effects on communities

Methods and Materials/Patients: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, 122 patients with traumatic spinal cord injury were admitted to Poursina hospital within 48 hours of injury to compare granulocyte colony stimulating factor [G-CSF] and high-dose methylprednisolone as neuroprotective therapy

Results: In this research, 122 patients were studied out of whom 62 patients were included in the granulociote colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF] group with a mean age of 40.4, and 60 patients in the methylprednisolone group with an average age of 40.10 years. 55 out of 122 patients [45%] were completely paralyzed [Grade AIS:A] and 67 [55%] were with incomplete spinal injury [Grade AIS:B,C,D]. The average American spinal injury association [ASIA] sensory scores in the two groups were similarly compared in the same four time intervals, and p values were 0.7, 0.3, 0.2, and 0.1. They were not statistically significant

Conclusion: According to the results, the G-CSF was shown to be beneficial in average ASIA motor and sensory scores in the two groups of male patients at six months of onset of G-CSF treatment [p value=0.04], and average ASIA motor scores improvement in the falls subgroup patients also differed significantly within six months of onset of G-CSF treatment [p value=0.03]. A multicentre prospective randomized clinical trial to compare the placebo effect with G-CSF protocol's treatment, and also assessment of the cost benefits of the common medical treatment versus G-CSF are needed

Hydatid disease of the cervical spine mimicking traumatic burst fracture

Background and Importance: Hydatid disease of the spine is rare but constitutes approximately 50% of bone involvement cases in human hydatidosis. It is a severe condition associated with a high rate of morbidity, disability and mortality

Case Presentation: In the present paper, we report an intriguing case of cervical spinal hydatid disease mimicking traumatic burst fracture

Conclusion: A high degree of suspicion combined with good-quality neuroimaging is important for early and correct diagnosis. Because of the location and the potential for progression, spinal hydatid disease surgical treatment is the mainstay of treatment