Update on spinal cord paralysis. A preventable injury, a surgical challenge?

Spinal cord injuries will not disappear, but the incidence can be reduced. A reduction of up to 50% of spinal cord injury cases is, in the opinion of Menzies' seminar participants, practical and possible but will only occur if the subject is accepted as a major challenge in the surgical world. Great advances in spinal cord injury care were made by surgeons. Prevention is a programme already targeted in other surgical areas. As a multidisciplinary medical and surgical area, spinal cord injury prevention now needs the effective activity of groups of health professionals. Primary prevention must therefore be a target for surgical communities. Surgeons should be among the leaders in the field ensuring good overall management of prevention programmes.