About this trial

This is a trial to study the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid: CSF) of patients with an acute spinal cord injury. Spinal cord perfusion pressure (SCPP) is measured as the difference between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the pressure in the CSF (intrathecal pressure: ITP). The main goals of this trial are to: test the effect of keeping the SCPP at or above 65 mmHg with a combination of increasing MAP and decreasing CSF from around the spinal cord (the intervention) on neurological recovery after acute SCI and, if this intervention allows a reduction in the use of MAP increasing drugs (vasopressors). find chemical markers in the CSF and blood that may be connected to neurological recovery after SCI. If included in the trial, a thin tube will be inserted into the participant’s lower spine from where the CSF will be collected every 8 hours, 3 times per day, for 7 days. The tube will then be removed. The participant will have a neurological exam at days 1-7, and months 3, 6, and 12 after injury. There is no control group in this trial.