Spinal Cord Injury
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Acute management of traumatic central cord syndrome
Supervisors: Dr Peter Batchelor, Dr Camila Battistuzzo
Project Site: Department of Medicine (RMH)
Contact: Dr Peter Batchelor: peter.batch@unimelb.edu.aum Dr Camila Battistuzzo: camilab@unimelb.edu.au
Project description: Acute traumatic central cord syndrome (TCCS) is the most common type of incomplete cervical spinal cord injury. TCCS is usually the result of a hyperextension injury in a patient with pre-existing narrowing of the spinal canal and can result in paralysis and permanent functional deficits. At present there is no standardized treatment for this condition, although early surgery to relieve spinal cord compression may improve neurological recovery. The aim of this project is to map the process of care of people with TCCS to determine the timing of spinal decompression surgery and factors that influence surgical decisions.
This project is part of the Immediate Cooling and Emergency Decompression (ICED) trial. You will have access to our database and opportunity to work with our national and international collaborators. We have already obtained Human Ethics Committee approval. There is opportunity for publication within one year. This project would suit a candidate with an interest in trauma, spinal surgery and acute medicine.