Pharmacological Therapy for Acute Spinal Cord Injury
Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Last Updated: March 14, 2022
RECOMMENDATIONS
Level I
Administration of methylprednisolone (MP) for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is not recommended. Clinicians considering MP therapy should bear in mind that the drug is not Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for this application. There is no Class I or Class II medical evidence supporting the clinical benefit of MP in the treatment of acute SCI. Scattered reports of Class III evidence claim inconsistent effects likely related to random chance or selection bias. However, Class I, II, and III evidence exists that high-dose steroids are associated with harmful side effects including death.
6731
Administration of GM-1 ganglioside (Sygen) for the treatment of acute SCI is not recommended.
6731
Recommendation Grading
Disclaimer
Overview
Title
Pharmacological Therapy for Acute Spinal Cord Injury
Authoring Organization
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Publication Month/Year
March 1, 2013
Last Updated Month/Year
August 22, 2023
Supplemental Implementation Tools
Document Type
Guideline
External Publication Status
Published
Country of Publication
US
Inclusion Criteria
Female, Male, Adolescent, Adult, Older adult
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Hospital, Operating and recovery room
Intended Users
Physician, physical therapist, chiropractor, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant
Scope
Assessment and screening, Diagnosis, Prevention, Management, Treatment
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D013119 - Spinal Cord Injuries
Keywords
spinal cord injury, GM-1 ganglioside, Pharmacologic therapy, Sygen trials, Mehtylprednisolone, NASCIS trials