〔Abstract〕 Objective To explore the effect of surgical intervention time on the recovery of neurological function in patients with acute spinal cord injury. Methods 78 patients with acute spinal cord injury who were treated in the Fifth Affi liated Hospitalof Zhengzhou University from November 2018 to May 2020 were selected and divided into early surgery group (39 cases) and late surgery group (39 cases) according to the surgical intervention time. The early surgery group was operated within 24 hours after injury, and the late surgery group was operated after 24 hours after injury. The neurological function score (light touch score, acupuncture pain score, motor score) and quality of life of the two groups were compared. Results The light touch score, acupuncture pain score, motor score and other neurological function scores of the two groups after treatment were signifi cantly higher than those before treatment, and the early surgery group was signifi cantly higher than the late surgery group, the differences were statistically signifi cant (P < 0.05); the scores of social life, daily life, anxiety, depression and other quality of life of the early surgery group after treatment were signifi cantly lower than those of the late surgery group. The difference was statistically signifi cant (P < 0.05). Conclusion Early surgical intervention for acute spinal cord injury is more beneficial to the recovery of patients' neurological function and can effectively improve the quality of life of patients.