title: History of the treatment of spinal injuries.
abstract: Injury of the spinal cord has been known since antiquity. There is no cure for the injury and until modern times patients died rapidly from a combination of pressure sores and urinary tract infection. Treatment consists of preventing complications until the spine has stabilised and the patient can be rehabilitated to an independent life. This article explores how this treatment developed in the ancient world, the middle ages, in Europe, Great Britain, and latterly in the United States. It describes how these principles of treatment were recognised particularly in Germany, the United States, and Great Britain and evaluates the relative contributions made by the different pioneers.
authors.affiliation: jrussellsilver@aol.com
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare