Objective: Does Edaravone improve neurological recovery in acute spinal cord injury? Methods: Twenty eight (28) thoracolumbar injury cases, admitted within 72 hrs after injury, participated in this prospective study. Subjects with polytrauma and head injuries were excluded from the study. Study subjects were randomized in two treatment groups -Group1 (n=14) subjects received placebo (saline) (controls) and Group 2 (n=14) subjects received 30mg Edaravone intravenously twice a day for 14 days (cases). The subjects were followed for 12 weeks and their neurological status recorded at baseline, at 4th and 12th week. Neurological recovery was assessed by AIS neurological grading, motor and sensory scores. Results: The recovery observed in motor and sensory scores in group 2 subjects was statistically significant as compared to group 1 subjects at week 4 (motor- p=0.00, sensory- p=0.02) and 12 (motor- p=0.000, sensory- p=0.03). Conclusions: Intravenous use of Edaravone may act to prevent the secondary damage and/or restoration of neurological function in SCI. Consequently, it may prove to be an effective strategy for therapeutic intervention in SCI.
