Indications for conservative (non-surgical) treatment include patients that are ambulatory or paraparetic, and patients that have strong voluntary movement and peripheral pain sensation.
Early definitive surgical correction is indicated in non-ambulatory patients, patients with palpably unstable or displaced injuries, patients that deteriorate with conservative therapy, patients with peripheral pain sensation but no voluntary movements, and patients requiring decompressive surgery to correct displaced or fractured spinal segments or bone fragments. Surgical management is likely not be feasible in a deployed setting.