Neurológia pre prax 6/2017

Spinal cord lesions from neurosurgical perspective

Spinal cord lesions represent a complicated clinical problem connected with serious consequences both for the patient and the society. Regenerative potential of spinal cord is extremely limited. From this point of view, fast diagnostics followed by an appropriate treatment based on the etiology of the lesion is fundamental. Etiology of spinal cord lesions can be traumatic and non-traumatic. Traumatic spinal cord lesions are most often connected with spine injuries. Tumors, degenerative diseases and various hemorrhages are the most common cause of non-traumatic spinal cord lesions. Early decompression along with an adequate conservative treatment currently represents the only therapy with prospect of clinical improvement. In prolonged complete spinal cord lesions, the patient prognosis is, in spite of significant efforts in experimental research, still unfavourable and the improvement of a serious neurological deficit is rather exceptional.

Keywords: spinal cord lesion, spinal cord injury, spinal cord surgery