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58%of the ambulant patients attained Ranawat neurological grades I or II compared with only 20%of the non-ambulant patients(p<0.0001).The non- ambulant group also fared worse in terms of postoperative complication rate,length of hospital stay,functional outcome,and ultimately survival. Radiologically,the non-ambulant patients were characterized by a smaller cross-sectional spinal cord area.The strong likelihood of surgical complications,the poor survival,and the limited prospects for functional recovery in non-ambulant patients make a strong case for earlier surgical intervention.At a late stage of disease most patients will have irreversible cord damage. |
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