Handbook Of Spinal Cord Injuries And Related Disorders

This easy-to-use handbook is designed to assist in the evaluation and management of spinal cord injuries and the diverse related disorders and conditions. Spinal cord injuries can cause abnormalities in all body systems due to dysfunction of the somatic motor and sensory systems and damage to the autonomic nerve system. The latter gives rise to respiratory and cardiac problems, temperature regulation disorders, endocrine system disorders, and many associated metabolic disorders. Other potential consequences of spinal cord injuries include pressure injuries and various disabilities and obstacles, ranging from physical limitations to social embarrassment. This handbook offers extensive guidance on medical management in different scenarios from the acute phase to long-term care, with a particular focus on information of importance for the solution of clinical problems commonly encountered in daily practice. It will be ideal for practitioners in rehabilitation medicine, neurosurgery, orthopedics, neurology, and other relevant specialties that deal with patients with spinal cord injuries.

This comprehensive, up-to-date guide to the rehabilitation care of persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders draws on the ever-expanding scientific and clinical evidence base to provide clinicians with all the knowledge needed in order to make optimal management decisions during the acute, subacute, and chronic phases. A wealth of information is presented on the diverse medical consequences and complications encountered in these patients and on the appropriate rehabilitative measures in each circumstance. The coverage encompasses all forms of spinal cord injury and all affected organ systems. Readers will also find chapters on the basics of functional anatomy, neurological classification and evaluation, injuries specifically in children and the elderly, and psychological issues. The book will be an invaluable aid to assessment and medical care for physicians and other professional personnel in multiple specialties, including physiatrists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, internists, critical care physicians, urologists, neurologists, psychologists, and social workers.

​This book, structured as a collection of questions and answers commonly encountered in the care of individuals with spinal cord injuries, aims to facilitate easy access to clinical and practical information for those involved in their treatment. The author, known for their expertise in spinal cord injuries, has developed this book to offer concise knowledge specifically tailored for clinicians and related healthcare professionals engaged in the care of spinal cord injuries. Unlike his previous works, this book goes beyond the traditional format and incorporates more concise and clinically-oriented questions and answers. Drawing from the author's practical experience and his role in training resident physicians in spinal cord medicine at the University Hospital, the content of this book addresses practical and clinical considerations. To enhance clinical understanding, the book extensively employs figures and tables throughout its comprehensive coverage of various aspects of spinal cord medicine. The author aspires for this book to serve as a valuable clinical companion, providing supplemental practical guidance for daily practice in the field of spinal cord injuries.

Most spinal cord injury causes permanent disability or loss of movement (paralysis) and sensation below the site of the injury. Paralysis that involves the majority of the body, including the arms and legs, is called quadriplegia or tetraplegia. When a spinal cord injury affects only the lower body, the condition is called paraplegia. Many scientists are optimistic that important advances will occur to make the repair of injured spinal cords a reachable goal. In the meantime, treatments and rehabilitation allow many people with spinal cord injury to lead productive, independent lives. This new and important book gathers the latest research on spinal cord injury from around the world.

From a hospital admittance to discharge to outpatient rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injuries addresses the wide spectrum of rehabilitation interventions and administrative and clinical issues specific to patients with spinal cord injuries. Comprehensive coverage includes costs, life expectancies, acute care, respiratory care, documentation, goal setting, clinical treatment, complications, and activities of daily living associated with spinal cord patients. In addition to physical therapy interventions and family education components, this resource includes content on incidence, etiology, diagnosis, and clinical features of spinal cord injury. Case Studies with clinical application thinking exercises help you apply knowledge from the book to real life situations. Thoroughly referenced, evidence-based content provides the best evidence for treatment based on the most current research. Tables and boxes throughout each chapter organize and summarize important information for quick reference. Clinical Note boxes provide at-a-glance access to helpful tips. Over 500 clinical photos, line drawings, radiographs, and more bring important concepts to life. Highly respected experts in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, editors Sue Ann Sisto, Erica Druin, and Martha Sliwinski, provide authoritative guidance on the foundations and principles of practice for spinal cord injury. Companion DVD includes video clips of the techniques described throughout the book that demonstrate how to apply key concepts to practice.

"From the first to the last page, this book is so full of information that as a person working in the world of spinal cord injury, I found myself in an unfamiliar situation. Never had I read a book related to my profession that I didnít have trouble putting down. Iím not saying that such books are boring by any means; however, they are not the captivating fictional reads that keep people up late on work nights thinking 'just one more chapter.' Essentials of Spinal Cord Medicine was that type of book for me!... Overall, I thought this book was nothing short of fantastic... it was so full of information that makes me feel more confident as a technologist, and more compassionate as a human. I would highly recommend this for any practitioner working in the field where they may encounter a person with spinal cord injury." -- Donna Jacobs, R. EEG T., CNIM, The Neurodiagnostic Journal This compact text is a practical, concise guide for clinicians involved in the care of patients with spinal cord injuries and disorders. It covers a comprehensive and diverse list of topics encompassing the principles and practice of spinal cord injury care, including basic science fundamentals, traumatic spinal cord injury, non-traumatic myelopathies, physical function and rehabilitation, medical consequences and complications of spinal cord injury, psychosocial and quality of life issues, and systems-based practice. Chapters are consistently formatted for ease of use and are organized under the broad headings of general principles, clinical considerations, and knowledge gaps and emerging concepts, and conclude with a curated list of suggested readings. Within these categories, specifics on underlying pathophysiology and etiology, assessment (examination, testing, differential diagnosis, prognosis, and risk factors) and management (non-pharmacological, medications, surgical procedures, follow-up and monitoring, primary and secondary prevention, and complications), and recent clinical advances and promising research are easily accessed. The book also addresses such quality of life issues as psychological adaptation, sexuality and fertility, vocational training, driving, and exercise, and includes information about systems of care and patient safety as well as ethical considerations. The guide is peppered with useful tables that highlight and reinforce key material. Additionally, ìPractice Pearlsî in selected chapters enhance the guide as a handy go-to reference for clinicians and trainees in multiple disciplines who care for people with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Key Features: A concise, practical manual designed for rapid access to key information on a broad range of topics integral to the practice of spinal cord medicine Covers both traumatic spinal cord injury and non-traumatic disorders and their evaluation, management, medical complications, functional rehabilitation, and quality of life concerns Packed with useful tables to highlight and reinforce key material Formatted consistently with short, reader-friendly paragraphs and clarifying sub-titles

What makes spinal cord injury so traumatic, is the fact that while the body is immobile, the brain isintact. You know what is going on. You know the full extent of the injury. But because you can think, because you are still the same person, you can learn how to return to your life - or begin anew. Education becomes your lifeline. This important source book will guide you through the sometimes overwhelming maze of getting back. It addresses your fears, concerns and your questions with authority and compassion. In simple, easy-to-understand terms, you'll learn about the six major arenas you need to understand to recognize for optimum health and rehabilitation success. You'll learn the nuts and bolts of spinal cord injury rehabilitation, from specific exercises to finding the best wheelchair for you, and much more. A resource you will refer to over and over again, this handbook will become an invaluable tool for your rehabilitation, your care- and the rest of your life.