Neurológia pre prax 3/2009

Risk conditions in patients at chronic stage of spinal cord injury

For most patients with spinal cord injury initial medical care is provided by spinal units or spinal rehabilitation units. However, quality care should also continue in a chronic stage where it can be provided by a specialist or a well trained general practitioner. Spinal lesions are often accompanied by various complications that mostly does not require a different approach than in non-injured population. Nevertheless these complications often show poor symptomatology which can entail their missed or late diagnosis. Frequent complications in spinal injury are e.g. spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia or neuropathic pain. Impaired vitality of the skin and soft tissues below the lesion brings about a permanent danger of pressure sores. We believe that a short outline of complications with their diagnosis and treatment will be helpful to all physicians providing care to spinal patients.

Keywords: spinal cord injury, complication, autonomic hyperreflexia, neurogenic bladder, paraarticular ossification, pressure sores.