title: Management of acute central cervical spinal cord injuries.
abstract: There is insufficient evidence to support treatment standards.
  
  
  
  There is insufficient evidence to support treatment guidelines.
  
  
  
  Intensive care unit (or other monitored setting) management of patients with acute central cervical spinal cord injuries, particularly patients with severe neurological deficits, is recommended. Medical management, including cardiac, hemodynamic, and respiratory monitoring, and maintenance of mean arterial blood pressure at 85 to 90 mmHg for the first week after injury to improve spinal cord perfusion is recommended. Early reduction of fracture-dislocation injuries is recommended. Surgical decompression of the compressed spinal cord, particularly if the compression is focal and anterior, is recommended.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hadley
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Grabb
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Oyesiku
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Przybylski
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Resnick
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ryken
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D003422:Critical Care; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery