OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between surgical timing and treatment efficacy in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury. METHODS: A total of 78 patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury were enrolled in Nantong Haimen People's Hospital from January 2019 to June 2022. Of these, 40 patients who received anterior decompression and fixation surgery with bone graft and steel plate within 2-7 days post-injury were assigned to the control group, while 38 patients who received the treatment within 24 h after injury were assigned to the study group. The recovery outcomes, visual analog score (VAS), anxiety score (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, SAS), depression score (Self-Rating Depression Scale, SAS), and adverse events were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The study group demonstrated a significantly higher recovery rate compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the VAS, SAS, and SDS scores were markedly lower in the study group than those in the control group (all P < 0.05), indicating reduced pain and psychological distress. The incidence of adverse events was also significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group (P < 0.05), underscoring the safety and efficacy of early surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical intervention not only alleviates physical pain but also effectively reduces psychological stress, thereby promoting overall recovery.