Effect of Intravenous Injection of Erythropoietinon Hospitalization Period in Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Trauma

Background & Aim: Spinal cord injury (SCI) has a very long history, and its cases form a large proportion of patients admitted to trauma centers in Iran. Studies show that repair after spinal cord injury can be done. In fact, many pharmaceutical agents, such as erythropoietin (EPO), are applied to reduce secondary injury following the initial disorder and to maintain the nerve tissue. Methods & Materials/Patients: In this clinical trial, 60 patients with acute spinal cord injury classified as A to C according to Frankel classification grading system were selected and matched with regard to the Frankel classes, the cervical and dorsal levels and then divided into two groups A and B (each containing 30 patients). Group A, in addition to receive conventional treatment, took EPO and was evaluated in terms of hospitalization period outcomes (mean length of stay, lower extremity thrombosis, intubation, bedsores) and was compared with group B (receiving conventional medicines, such as methylprednisolone). Results: Of the 60 patients, 15 patients were female and 45 were male, with the age range of 19-72 years. The mean length of stay in the case and control group was 10.6±6.52 and 13.8±10.37 days, respectively. Six patients died during hospitalization, including three patients in the case group and three patients in the control group. 12 patients were intubated during this period, including five patients in the case group and seven patients in the control group. Of the 29 patients with bedsores, 14 patients were in the case group and 15 patients were in the control group. None of the patients had lower extremity venous thrombosis during hospitalization. Conclusion: No significant difference was found between the case and control group in the hospital stay length, intubation, bedsores and lower extremities venous thrombosis.