title: Spinal cord injury medicine. 2. Medical complications after spinal cord injury: Identification and management.
abstract: This is a self-directed learning module that reviews medical complications associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). It is part of a chapter on SCI medicine in the Self-Directed Physiatric Educational Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article includes discussion of common medical complications that impact rehabilitation and long-term follow-up for individuals with SCI. Issues addressed include the rehabilitation approach to SCI individuals with pressure ulcers, unilateral lower-extremity swelling (deep venous thrombosis, heterotopic ossification, fractures), along with the pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment of spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia, orthostatic hypotension, and pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe diagnostic and treatment approaches for medical complications common to individuals with SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia, USA. wmckinle@hsc.vcu.edu
authors.forename: William O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.forename: Michelle S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gittler
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kirshblum
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stiens
authors.forename: Suzanne L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Groah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020211:Autonomic Dysreflexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*