title: The microanatomy of spinal cord injury: a review.
abstract: Spinal cord injury is a highly prevalent condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiology underlying it is extraordinarily complex and still not completely understood. We performed a comprehensive literature review of the pathophysiologic processes underlying spinal cord injury. The mechanisms underlying primary and secondary spinal cord injury are distinguished based on a number of factors and include the initial mechanical injury force, the vascular supply of the spinal cord which is associated with spinal cord perfusion, spinal cord autoregulation, and post-traumatic ischemia, and a complex inflammatory cascade involving local and infiltrating immunomodulating cells. This review illustrates the current literature regarding the pathophysiology behind spinal cord injury and outlines potential therapeutic options for reversing these mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mortazavi
authors.forename: Ketan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Olivia A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: Christoph J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Griessenauer
authors.forename: Nimer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adeeb
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theodore
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
mesh_terms: D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: compromise; inflammation; injury; mechanisms; spinal cord; therapy; vascular