SPINAL-CORD INJURY REHABILITATION .2. MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS

This self-directed learning module highlights new advances in understa nding medical complications of spinal cord injury through the lifespan , It is part of the chapter on spinal cord injury rehabilitation in th e Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and tra inees in physical medicine and rehabilitation, This article covers rea sons for transferring patients to specialized spinal cord injury cente rs once they have been stabilized, and the management of common medica l problems, including fever, autonomic dysreflexia, urinary tract infe ction, acute and chronic abdominal complications, deep vein thrombosis , pulmonary complications, and heterotopic ossification, Formulation o f an educational program for prevention of late complications is also discussed, including late renal complications, syringomyelia, myelomal acia, burns, pathologic fractures, pressure ulcers, and cardiovascular disease, New advances covered in this section include new information on old problems, and a discussion of exercise tolerance in persons wi th tetraplegia, the pathophysiology of late neurologic deterioration a fter spinal cord injury, and a view of the care of these patients acro ss the lifespan. (C) 1997 by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.