Efficacy of Canal Compromise and Canal Clearance in Predicting Outcome After Spinal Injury

The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of canal compromise and canal clearance on neurologic outcome in patients with thoracolumbar spinal injuries. It was a prospective study including 31 patients. Surgery was performed in all the patients through the anterolateral approach with grafting and instrumentation. Frankel's clinical grading and radiologic assessment were used to study the neurologic outcome before and after surgery. Canal compromise of more than 30% was significantly associated with neurologic deficit (P=0.024). A significant improvement in grade of power (P=0.000), sensations (P=0.049), and bladder function (P=0.034) was seen after surgery. There was no clinical correlation between canal clearance and outcome of power (P=0.851). We conclude that spinal cord injury is directly reflected by the extent of canal compromise as this reflects the extent to which the cord was subjected to the insult. The extent of neurologic recovery is not related to the level of canal clearance, as the damage has already occurred at the time of injury.