Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury
Many of the consequences associated with spinal cord injury do not result from the condition itself, but from inadequate medical care and rehabilitation services, and from barriers in the physical, social and policy environments.

Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) requires action to address these gaps and barriers.

Essential measures for improving the survival, health and participation of people with spinal cord injury include the following.

Timely, appropriate pre-hospital management: quick recognition of suspected spinal cord injury, rapid evaluation and initiation of injury management, including immobilization of the spine.

Acute care (including surgical intervention) appropriate to the type and severity of injury, degree of instability, presence of neural compression, and in accordance with the wishes of the patient and their family.

Access to ongoing health care, health education and products (e.g. catheters) to reduce risk of secondary conditions and improve quality of life.

Access to skilled rehabilitation and mental health services to maximize functioning, independence, overall wellbeing and community integration.
Management of bladder and bowel function is of primary importance.

Access to appropriate assistive devices that can enable people to perform everyday activities they would not otherwise be able to undertake, reducing functional limitations and dependency. Only 5-15% of people in low- and middle-income countries have access to the assistive devices they need.

Specialized knowledge and skills among providers of medical care and rehabilitation services.