SOFT PACKING INTERVENTIONS IN SPINAL CORD INJURY: CURRENT INSIGHTS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS (Atena Editora)

Abstract

INTRODUTION: Spinal cord injury (SCI) involves a complex interplay of primary and secondary injury mechanisms, resulting in sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunction. Understanding these processes is critical for developing effective interventions to mitigate tissue damage and promote neural repair. Strategies such as soft packing interventions and pharmacological approaches offer promise for enhancing recovery. Rehabilitation, preventive measures, and addressing epidemiological disparities are essential components in improving outcomes and reducing the global burden of SCI. Collaborative efforts across disciplines are crucial for advancing SCI management and enhancing the lives of affected individuals OBJETIVE: To analyze and describe the main aspects of interventions in SCI in the last years. METHODS: This is a narrative review, in which the main aspects of SCI in recent years were analyzed using studies in the MEDLINE – PubMed (National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health), COCHRANE, EMBASE and Google Scholar databases. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: SCI initiates a complex cascade of pathophysiological events involving primary and secondary injury mechanisms, leading to sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunction. Primary injury, occurring immediately upon impact, involves physical disruption of spinal cord tissue, while secondary mechanisms, unfolding over hours to weeks, exacerbate neurological deterioration. Strategies targeting scar formation modulation and neuroregeneration hold promise for enhancing functional recovery post-SCI. Pharmacological interventions aim to attenuate secondary injury mechanisms and promote neural repair, while non-pharmacological approaches complement rehabilitation efforts, optimizing outcomes. Understanding SCI's epidemiology, prevention strategies, and management is crucial for reducing its global burden and improving the lives of affected individuals. CONCLUSION: SCI is a multifaceted condition marked by primary and secondary injury mechanisms leading to severe sensory, motor, and autonomic deficits. Therapeutic strategies such as soft packing interventions hold promise for modulating scar formation and promoting axonal regeneration