title: Current management review of thoracolumbar cord syndromes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injuries to the thoracolumbar spine may lead to a complex array of clinical syndromes that result from dysfunction of the anterior motor units, lumbosacral nerve roots, and/or spinal cord. Neurologic dysfunction may manifest in the lower extremities as loss of fine and gross motor function, touch, pain, temperature, and proprioceptive and vibratory sense deficits. Two clinical syndromes sometimes associated with these injuries are conus medullaris syndrome (CMS) and cauda equina syndrome (CES).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the current management of thoracolumbar spinal cord injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Index Medicus was used to search the primary literature for articles on thoracolumbar injuries. An emphasis was placed on the current management, controversies, and newer treatment options.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After blunt trauma, these syndromes may reflect a continuum of dysfunction rather than a distinct clinical entity. The transitional anatomy at the thoracolumbar junction, where the conus medullaris is present, makes it less likely that a "pure" CMS or CES syndrome will occur and more likely that a "mixed" injury will. Surgical decompression is the mainstay of treatment for incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) and incomplete CMS and CES. The value of timing of surgical intervention in the setting of incomplete SCI is unclear at this time. This review summarizes the recent information on epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and controversies in the management of thoracolumbar neurologic injury syndromes.
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors: Kristen E
authors: KE
authors: Radcliff
authors: Christopher K
authors: CK
authors: Kepler
authors: Lawrence A
authors: LA
authors: Delasotta
authors: Jeffrey A
authors: JA
authors: Rihn
authors: James S
authors: JS
authors: Harrop
authors: Alan S
authors: AS
authors: Hilibrand
authors: Todd J
authors: TJ
authors: Albert
authors: Alexander R
authors: AR
authors: Vaccaro
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*