Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries refer to the damage to the spinal cord caused as a result of accidents, falls, gunshots, infections, tumors, etc. This may lead to temporary or permanent changes in the functioning of the spinal cord. Loss of autonomic function, muscle function and sensation is common in spinal cord injuries. The damage to the spinal cord can be divided into primary and secondary injury. Injury can also be complete or incomplete based on the degree of loss of sensation. A radiographic evaluation using an MRI, CT or X-ray scan can evaluate the degree of damage to the spinal column and the location of the trauma. Pre-hospitalization care aimed at basic life support and prevention of further injury, initial care aimed at adequate breathing and cardiovascular function, spinal motion restriction and repeated neurological assessments are part of the first line of care. After this stage, patients require extended treatments in intensive care units and specialized units. The degree of functional recovery and autonomy achieved in activities of daily living after treatment depends on the level and severity of the injury. The objective of this book is to give a general view of the different diagnostic and treatment strategies of spinal cord injuries. It brings forth some of the most innovative concepts and elucidates the unexplored aspects of spinal cord injuries. It is a vital tool for all researching and studying this domain.