title: Spinal cord injury medicine. 5. Long-term medical issues and health maintenance.
abstract: This self-directed learning module highlights long-term care issues in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). It is part of the study guide on SCI in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The most common secondary medical complications include pressure ulcers, pneumonia, and genitourinary issues. Health care maintenance is important to prevent medical complications, for general health as well as for issues specific to SCI. Women with SCI have gender-specific issues regarding amenorrhea, sexuality, fertility, and menopause. Options exist to assist disabled men with sexuality and fertility complications. Pain is a common complication after SCI. Many new areas of research in the field of SCI are discussed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To discuss long-term care issues in patients with spinal cord injury, including health maintenance, secondary conditions, women's health, sexual function, pain, and spinal cord regeneration and recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. tchiodo@umich.edu <tchiodo@umich.edu>
authors.forename: Anthony E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Chiodo
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Scelza
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kirshblum
authors.forename: Lisa-Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wuermser
authors.forename: Chester H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Priebe
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000639:trends; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*