Functional Recovery of Patients with Traumatic Central Cord Syndrome

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing the degree of neurological injury, show the natural course of recovery, and evaluate the relationship between degree of neurological injury and functional recovery from traumatic central cord syndrome. METHOD: We reviewed 15 patients retrospectively and investigated their demographic and treatment data. Initial ASIA motor scales and functional recovery at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after injury were analyzed. RESULTS: The age of patients showed significant correlation with degree of neurological injury (r= 0.55145, p<0.05) while mechanism of injury, surgical intervention and gender difference showed no correlation. Only 2 patients (13.3%) ambulated independently at initial period but subsequently 13 patients (86.7%) at 8 weeks. The number of patients who independently voided increased from 2 (13.3%) to 11 (73.3%) during the 8 weeks. Early ASIA motor score differed significantly according to the degree of functional recovery of bladder and ambulation in 4 weeks, 8 weeks after injury (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Only the age of patients related to the initial neurologic severity. Most patients regained their bladder and ambulatory functions considerably within 8 weeks, and the degree of early neurological injury by ASIA motor scale reflected the degree of functional recovery in 4 and 8 weeks after injury.