title: Spinal cord injury--a systems approach: prevention, emergency medical services, and emergency room management.
abstract: Spinal cord injury is considered a catastrophic disease because of the significant morbidity, mortality, and costs not only in fiscal terms but in social terms. There are approximately ten thousand new spinal cord injuries per year with the national prevalence estimated at between three and five hundred thousand Americans. These authors advocate a systems approach for the comprehensive management of these devastating injuries. In all phases of care for the spinal-cord-injured person, the key is a team approach and a commitment to an optimal patient care program that can result in minimizing patient morbidity, mortality, and the cost of care as well as making neurologic function maximal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Eismont
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: O'Heir
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D012774:Shock, Traumatic / Q000628:therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D014193:Trauma Centers