Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40152995›Full record

SynthesisEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2025

Duraplasty in acute spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

Tej D Azad, Ahmet Kartal, Mahnoor Shafi, Daniel Lubelski, Nicholas Theodore, Ali Bydon, Timothy F Witham

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Tej D AzadJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
Ahmet KartalJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. ahk4006@med.cornell.edu.
Mahnoor ShafiJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
Daniel LubelskiJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
Nicholas TheodoreJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
Ali BydonJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
Timothy F WithamJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAcute spinal cord injury (aSCI) can cause severe, lasting disabilities that may be fatal. Expansile duraplasty has been explored as a potential intervention aimed at alleviating spinal cord compression and enhancing neurological recovery in patients with aSCI.

objectiveThis systematic review aimed to assess efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of expansile duraplasty in the management of aSCI.

methodsThe literature was searched across major databases to identify relevant studies published up to July 2024. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies involving human subjects with aSCI that underwent duraplasty. Data extraction focused on neurological outcomes, complications, and follow-up duration.

resultsFour studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 158 patients with aSCI of which 35 patients underwent duraplasty. The average age of these patients was 50.2 years ± 15.5. Among these patients, 77.8% (123 patients) underwent decompression alone, while 22.2% (35 patients) underwent decompression combined with duraplasty. Improvements in the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) were reported in two studies, wherein 3/23 patients improved from grade A to grades C or D; 14/23 patients improved from grade B to grades C, D, or E; and 3/23 patients improved from grade C to grades D or E. Three studies detailed changes in spinal cord perfusion pressure indices, displaying significant improvement in intraspinal pressure, spinal cord perfusion pressure, and spinal cord pressure reactivity.

conclusionExpansile duraplasty shows promise in patients with aSCI and may be effective in enhancing patient outcomes. Current literature remains scarce and further studies need to be conducted.

Indexed as

Decompression, SurgicalDura MaterSpinal Cord InjuriesHumansTreatment OutcomeAcute spinal cord injuryaSCIASIA impairment scaleDuraplastyIntraspinal pressure monitoringNeural regeneration

Identifiers

PMID40152995

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.