Surgery 'vastly improves survival in spinal injury'RSS Feed

Spinal injury patients have a significantly improved chance of survival if they undergo surgery, a new study has shown.

Those who received surgery for their spinal injury were seen to have a 44 per cent decreased chance of death compared to patients who were treated with just bed rest and painkillers, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The study, which was presented at the meeting of the British Geriatric Society, revealed a 74.8 per cent survival rate in spinal injury patients who were operated on 24 months later, in comparison to the 67.4 per cent of those who were not.

Moreover, there was a much reduced chance of death in the surgery group after four years.

Michael Kotrba, of Croydon University Hospital, told the newspaper: : "We've known for a long time about the benefits of minimally invasive surgical intervention in the reduction of pain but this is the first time we seem to have robust data showing that it can highly contribute to saving lives."

Meanwhile, researchers at Rutgers University have discovered a new treatment for spinal injury, which minimises nerve damage and pain.

The scientists used a siRNA molecule to decrease the production of RhoA - a protein which prevents the regeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord, thereby stopping the spinal injury from healing.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in brain injury

Posted by Paul Breen
 

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