Survey of Cervical Spine Research Society Members on the Use of High-Dose Steroids for Acute Spinal Cord Injuries

Abstract

A questionnaire survey. To characterize surgeons' current perspectives on the administration of methylprednisolone for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and determine how this has changed during the last 7 years. The determinants of and complications associated with off-label steroid use for acute SCI remain controversial. A survey was sent to surgeon members of the Cervical Spine Research Society requesting information regarding their use of steroids for acute SCI. Determinants included surgeons' specialty, trauma center level, number of SCIs treated per year, severity of injury, and location of injury. These results were compared across groups as well as with a historical control. In the case of cervical complete and incomplete SCIs, 47.4% and 56.4% of respondents, respectively, reported using steroids. For complete and incomplete thoracolumbar spine injuries, the usage rate was 46.2% and 55.1%, respectively. There has been a significant (P < 0.0001) decrease in the number of surgeons using high-dose steroids in the treatment of acute SCIs when compared with a previous report in 2006 (56% vs. 89%).More than 80% of respondents reported sepsis, active gastrointestinal bleeding, and SCI occurring earlier than 8 hours as contraindications. Seventy-one percent of respondents reported observing complications from the use of steroids, and 76.3% thought that the complications were severe enough to limit steroid use. Of the surgeons who used steroids for SCI, 26% thought that steroids improved neurological recovery, 19.2% used steroids to adhere to institutional protocol, and 25.6% stated they did not think steroids were beneficial but used them because of medicolegal concerns. There has been a significant decrease in the number of surgeons using high-dose steroids for acute SCIs. Sepsis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and an injury occurring more than 8 hours prior to presentation were agreed upon as contraindications to steroid use.