Reflections on the intensive care of acute cervical spinal cord injuries in a general traumatology centre

Abstract

Fifty-one cases of cervical spinal cord injury were reviewed. The importance of the immediate comprehensive care after onset may be achieved successfully even in a General Traumatology Centre. The great majority of these patients were treated by orthopaedic methods as far as their vertebral injury was concerned. Mortality related to the spinal cord injury is 7.8 per cent. The methods used and our development are based on principles established by Sir Ludwig Guttmann; they have been shown to be durable and important. © 1979, International Spinal Cord Society. All rights reserved.