CLINICAL CARE OF SPINAL CORD INJURY

J.E. Wilberger, PhD, Allegheny General Hospital & Drexel University College of Medicine, Pittsburgh , PA

There have been very few advances in the acute clinical care of spinal cord injury in the past several decades. Even the advent of methylprednisolone as a proven therapy in several randomized, controlled clinical trials has created more controversy than likely clinical benefit. The most fundamental issues in acute clinical care- spinal realignment, hemodynamic management, surgical decompression- are of unproven clinical benefit.

Nevertheless spinal cord injury research has forged ahead in a search for “the cure” on the regenerative, transplant, restorative and genetic fronts.

This search for “the cure” has left clinicians on the front lines with little new to offer patients with these devastating injuries.

It is thus very important to develop strategies between basic scientists and clinicians to bridge the gap between basic, translation and clinical research in spinal cord injury.