Timing of Tracheostomy After Anterior Cervical Decompression in Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Three comparative cohorts (N = 210) contributed data for duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit LOS, and anterior surgical-site infection.

Four cohorts (N = 308) contributed mortality data.

Intensive care unit LOS was also shorter in the early group with high heterogeneity (MD -5.4 days; 95% CI -10.65 to -0.18; I 2 = 63%).

Mortality (OR 1.64; 95% CI 0.38-7.06; I 2 = 61%) and anterior surgical-site infection rates (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.06-1.59; I 2 = 0%) did not differ between groups.