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Spinal Cord Injury

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Textbook of Polytrauma Management

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Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating acute neurological condition characterized by loss of function and long-term impairment. The early assessment and documentation of the extent and level of neurological injury are of paramount importance to classify SCI, implement appropriate treatment strategies, and quantify neurological recovery over time. General management strategies for acute spinal cord injury consist of protection of airway and maintenance of oxygenation and spinal perfusion. Unstable spine fractures should be stabilized early, in conjunction with spinal cord decompression, if indicated, to allow unrestricted patient mobilization and decrease preventable complications. Once the spine is stabilized and decompressed, patients should be transferred to early rehabilitation at designated neurorehabilitation centers in order to optimize patient outcomes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Specialty Medicine, Rocky Vista University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, CO, USA

    Philip F. Stahel

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Grégoire P. Chatain & Michael A. Finn

Authors
  1. Philip F. Stahel
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  2. Grégoire P. Chatain
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  3. Michael A. Finn
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Hans-Christoph Pape

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, The University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA

    Joseph Borrelli Jr.

  3. Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center at Denver Health, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA

    Ernest E. Moore

  4. Klinik für Traumatologie, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Roman Pfeifer

  5. Rocky Vista University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, CO, USA

    Philip F. Stahel

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Stahel, P.F., Chatain, G.P., Finn, M.A. (2022). Spinal Cord Injury. In: Pape, HC., Borrelli Jr., J., Moore, E.E., Pfeifer, R., Stahel, P.F. (eds) Textbook of Polytrauma Management . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95906-7_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95906-7_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-95905-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-95906-7

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