Acute Spinal cord injury

An acute spinal cord injury is a serious medical emergency that needs immediate attention. It can cause damage to the spinal cord and may result in loss of movement or feeling in parts of the body.

It’s important to remember that the first few hours after an acute spinal cord injury are crucial. Quick recognition and treatment can make a big difference in the patient’s recovery.

After the initial treatment, the patient will need ongoing care and support to help them adjust to their new situation.

It’s important to keep the patient’s neck and back still and get them to a hospital with experience in treating spinal cord injuries as soon as possible. Quick recognition and treatment are crucial for the best outcomes.

Acute Spinal Cord Injury Guidelines

Here are some guidelines for the management of acute spinal cord injury:

• The patient’s neck and back need to be kept unmoving to avoid any further damage. They may be put on a board or have a neck brace put on.
• It’s important to recognize the injury early and get the patient to a hospital that has experience in treating spinal cord injuries.
• A doctor will check how the patient is feeling and what they can do. They will try to find out which part of the spinal cord is damaged.
• The doctor may take X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans if necessary to look at the spine and find out if there are any broken bones or other problems.
• The doctor may give the patient medicine to reduce swelling and inflammation around the spinal cord.
• If there are any bone fragments or foreign objects pressing on the spinal cord, the doctor may need to remove them through surgery.
• Once the patient is stable, they will start a rehabilitation program to help them recover and regain as much function as possible.

Dr. Navin Tiwari
Consulting Neurologist