Noniatrogenic spinal cord ischemia: A patient level meta-analysis of 125 case reports and series

This study looks at spinal cord ischemia (SCI) that isn't caused by medical procedures. It reviews many cases to understand what causes this type of SCI, how it's treated, and what the outcomes are for patients. The researchers collected data on 147 patients who had noniatrogenic SCI. They analyzed the causes of the ischemia, the treatments used (like rehabilitation, steroids, and blood thinners), and how well patients recovered. The study found that the location of the SCI in the spine could affect patient outcomes. Also, some treatments like CSF drainage seemed to help, while others like steroids didn't show much benefit.

• 1
  Traumatic causes of spinal cord ischemia were associated with worse outcomes, while those without a clear diagnosis despite extensive work-up had better results.
• 2
  At discharge, patients managed with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage had significant improvement (P = 0.04), while other therapies were not effective.
• 3
  Ischemia mostly occurring between the T4 and T7 levels and was associated with the worst outcomes.