Solu-Medrol and spinal cord insult

[Ken Lawson-Williams <Macgyver@FlightMedicMail.com>]

While on the research topic, does anyone on ythe list know of studies that shown a proven absence of benefit to the use of solumedrol drips in the acute phase of spinal cord injury/insult treatment/transfer?

Have an number of tertiary care neurologists claiming no benefit and thus specifically countering our protocols on flights with patients with documented and evolving deficits.

I suspect (and would like to confirm or deny) that the studies they have read refer to global population of spinal cord patients. Not only to those who have documented cord injury/insult per CT or clinical assessment and that are within the time limits prior to decision to start drip. Since the latter is a small subset of total population of patients flown with c-spine precautions in-situ, any positive results may be masked. 

Anecdotaly, out of those I have flown, 75% have had good outcomes. But agree it is hard to say what outcome would have been without the steroids. (I guess we will find out in a few more years if never allowed to use steroids again - just need to fly same number of candidates!!).

Fly Safe. 
Ken L-W CCEMT-P/WMT

"If in the last few years you haven't discarded a major opinion or 
acquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead."
- Gelett Burgess

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