Abstract
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to demonstrate the epidemiology and trends in management of patients with central cord syndrome (CCS) who present to the emergency department. Recent literature has reported that surgical treatment for CCS have increased over the previous decades. METHODS: The National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) was queried from 2009 through 2012 to generate national estimates of patients who presented to the emergency department in the United States and were diagnosed with CCS. RESULTS: From 2009 through 2012, there were 11,975 emergency room visits for CCS (mean age 60 years). The two most common injury mechanisms were: fall (55%) and motor vehicle accident (15%). Concomitant cervical fractures were found in 10% patients. Ninety-three percent of patients were admitted to the hospital directly or after transfer to another facility, and 7% were discharged home. Fifty-five percent of patients were treated non-operatively, 39% were treated with cervical fusion surgery and 6% were treated with laminoplasty. Of patients who underwent cervical fusion, 62% received anterior decompression and fusion, 32% received posterior decompression and fusion, and 6% received combined anterior-posterior decompression and fusion. The incidence of in-hospital mortality was 2.6%. Mortality was associated with older patient age (OR 1.06, P<0.001) and greater comorbidities (OR 1.72, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Majority of patients who presented to the emergency room for CCS in the United States were treated non-operatively. Advanced age and greater comorbidities were the factors that were most associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with CCS.