Mubashir T, Arif AA, Ernest P, et al. - Given a lack of knowledge concerning the optimal timing for tracheostomy in patients with acute spinal cord injuries (SCIs), researchers conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the optimal timing of tracheostomy in SCI patients. In addition, they examined the potential benefits of early vs late tracheostomy. Via conducting a search in Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and PsycINFO, they identified eight studies with a total of 1,220 patients as eligible for inclusion in this work. Findings revealed higher cervical SCI, shorter ICU length of stay, and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with early tracheostomy within the first 7 days of injury or tracheal intubation compared with late tracheostomy. An early tracheostomy may correlate with lower risk of in-hospital mortality. However, it is challenging to make conclusive interpretations, given the quality of studies and availability of insufficient clinical data.