A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations on the Role of Baseline Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Clinical Decision Making and Outcome Prediction
Date
2017Journal
Global Spine JournalPublisher
SAGE Publications LtdType
Article
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Introduction: The objective of this guideline is to outline the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in clinical decision making and outcome prediction in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to address key questions related to the use of MRI in patients with traumatic SCI. This review focused on longitudinal studies that controlled for baseline neurologic status. A multidisciplinary Guideline Development Group (GDG) used this information, their clinical expertise, and patient input to develop recommendations on the use of MRI for SCI patients. Based on GRADE (Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation), a strong recommendation is worded as “we recommend,” whereas a weaker recommendation is indicated by “we suggest.” Results: Based on the limited available evidence and the clinical expertise of the GDG, our recommendations were: (1) “We suggest that MRI be performed in adult patients with acute SCI prior to surgical intervention, when feasible, to facilitate improved clinical decision-making” (quality of evidence, very low) and (2) “We suggest that MRI should be performed in adult patients in the acute period following SCI, before or after surgical intervention, to improve prediction of neurologic outcome” (quality of evidence, low). Conclusions: These guidelines should be implemented into clinical practice to improve outcomes and prognostication for patients with SCI. Copyright The Author(s) 2017.Sponsors
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by AOSpine, the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) and the AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care. Dr Fehlings wishes to acknowledge support from the Gerald and Tootsie Halbert Chair in Neural Repair and Regeneration and the DeZwirek Family Foundation. Dr Tetreault acknowledges support from a Krembil Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. Methodological support was provided by Spectrum Research, Inc.Keyword
acute spinal cord injuryclinical decision making
clinical guideline
guideline
magnetic resonance imaging
outcome prediction
spinal cord injury
traumatic spinal cord injury
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https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85029105002&doi=10.1177%2f2192568217703089&partnerID=40&md5=278e9a54f1796bb35af483367f5022e1; http://hdl.handle.net/10713/9907ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1177/2192568217703089