Perioperative care of the orthopedic patient with neurological disease

Abstract

This chapter deals with an array of neurological conditions and complications that are not uncommonly seen in the perioperative period. Due to their disparate nature and potential seriousness they may present major challenges to the perioperative physician and health care team at large. Owing to the significant functional incapacity that may accompany such conditions, they have important implications concerning the outcome of orthopedic surgery and present unique challenges to the physical therapist.