Early Acute Management in Adults With Spinal Cord Injury: A Clinical Practice Guideline for Health-Care Providers. Who Should Read It?

A Clinical Practice Guideline for Health-Care Providers,'' focuses on caring for patients during the first crucial 72 hours after spinal cord injury (SCI). During this time, the diagnosis of SCI is being established in an individual who may have multiple serious and possibly life-threatening injuries. While the priority is to render emergency care to save the person's life, the basic principles of care of acute SCI must be observed if major complications are to be avoided. Actions taken during this short window of opportunity may determine the success of both short-and long-term outcomes. Because even small errors in care can lead to rehabilitation-halting or even fatal complications, recommendations in this guideline reflect both ''best practice'' clinical experience and established research evidence.