title: Subacute posttraumatic ascending myelopathy: a literature review.
abstract: METHODS
  A literature review.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to summarise the history, epidemiology, aetiological mechanism, pathological study, clinical and radiological evaluation, treatment and prognosis of subacute posttraumatic ascending myelopathy (SPAM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical literature on SPAM were searched in the PubMed, Medline, Ovid and Embase databases. The cases of SPAM reported in literature were analysed, and the history, epidemiology, aetiological mechanism, pathological study, clinical and radiological evaluation, treatment and prognosis of SPAM were summarised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SPAM remains a relatively rare disorder occurring within the first few weeks after spinal cord injury (SCI). The incidence rate ranges from 0.42% to 1% among all SCI. SPAM is likely to occur in young and middle-aged male patients. Risk factors of SPAM include complete injury, low blood pressure, early postoperative mobilisation and nonsurgical treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SPAM is well recognised according to typical clinical manifestation and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics. There is no effective therapy for this neurological deterioration. The prognosis of SPAM is poor. There is usually a slight improvement of one or more level(s) below the maximal level of deterioration. The mortality rate is approximately 10%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tianjin Baodi Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin Baodi Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*