Early Predictors for Neurological Outcome After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Study rationale In order to address the question whether MAP targets and pharmacological interventions affect the neurological outcome after traumatic SCI, a large sample size of longitudinal data is required. The BG Trauma Center Murnau is a level Ia trauma center in Bavaria (Germany) and approximately 120 patients are treated with acute traumatic SCI every year. Therefore the spinal cord injury center at the Trauma Center Murnau represents one of the largest centers in Europe specializing in the treatment of SCI.

A retrospective analysis of routinely collected data during the ICU stay would create an opportunity to investigate the relation of hemodynamic parameters, pharmacological interventions, and neurological recovery in a large cohort of individuals who sustained acute traumatic SCI.

A better understanding of the effect of interventions in the very acute stages of SCI on neurological recovery, as well as the identification of new biomarkers would be of utmost interest for physicians. The knowledge gain from this study could inform clinical decision-making in the future and would therefore ultimately improve the treatment of acute SCI.

Specific aims and hypothesis of the project:

AIM 1 Investigate if continuous monitoring of arterial pressure and augmentation via administration of vasopressors during the ICU stay affect the neurological outcome in individuals who sustained traumatic SCI.

Hypothesis 1.1 The administration of high doses of vasopressor medication within the acute stage of SCI negatively affects long-term neurological outcome.

Hypothesis 1.2 MAP goals need to be defined depending on several contributing factors, such as the patient's age, the presence of co-morbidities, and medication intake prior to the SCI instead of universal MAP targets for the whole SCI population.

AIM 2 Evaluate if other pharmacological interventions (opioids, sedatives, neuroleptics, pain medication especially neuropathic pain medication) during ICU stay are related to neurological recovery and adverse events after SCI.

Hypothesis Administration of high doses of opioids and sedatives negatively affect the neurological outcome after SCI.

AIM 3 Evaluate if diagnostic (for the presence and severity of SCI), and/or prognostic (for neurological recovery and disease progression) biomarkers (blood-borne, or digital) can be identified derived from routine clinical measurements during the first year after injury in clinical routine in the very acute post-injury phase.

Hypothesis 3 Biomarkers with either a diagnostic value (for injury severity) as well as prognostic markers (for neurological recovery and disease progression) could assist clinical decision-making and would therefore be of utmost interest for treating physicians, and for clinical research.

Detailed research plan:

We will retrospectively analyze routinely collected data from patients who sustained traumatic SCI, and were treated in the ICU at the Trauma Center Murnau (Germany). Data to be extracted from the patient data management system include medication (timing, dosage and cumulative dose), routine blood chemistry data, high frequency hemodynamic parameters, ventilation (duration and technique), and complications (infections, etc.) during the ICU stay. In the first step, we aim to investigate the effect of MAP monitoring, vasopressor administration, and other pharmacological interventions on neurological recovery. In a second step of analysis, we will evaluate if new biomarkers can be derived from routinely collected data. We anticipate that a better understanding of the relation between early interventions during intensive care and neurological recovery, as well as the identification of new biomarkers will inform clinical decision-making in the future and would therefore ultimately improve the treatment of acute SCI.