In 1927 Harvey Cushing described the outcome for soldiers withspinal cord injuries sustained during World War I: "Fully 80percent died in the first few weeks in consequence of infectionfrom bedsores and catheterization. . . . Only those cases survivedin which the spinal cord lesion was a partial one"1. Today,this picture has been completely reversed, and in well-organizedsystems of care for trauma and spinal cord injuries 94 percentof patients survive the initial hospitalization2,3. Nationaldata on people with spinal cord injuries suggest a populationof over 200,000, which will increase each year . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Medical Problems
Altered Symptoms and Signs
Neurologic Improvement and Decline
Urinary Tract Infection
Pressure Ulceration
Spasticity
Functional Aspects
Impairment and Disability
The Rehabilitation Team
Lifetime Follow-up
Psychosocial Aspects and Long-Term Adjustment
Depression
Domestic and Employment Status
Life Satisfaction
Sexual Function and Parenthood
Aging
Summary
Source Information
From the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of Delaware Valley and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jefferson Medical College and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (J.F.D.), and the Magee Rehabilitation Hospital (C.S.F.) -- all in Philadelphia.
Address reprint requests to Dr. Ditunno at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 111 S. 11th St., Philadelphia, PA 19107.
References
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