McCagg C
Orthop Clin North Am. 1986 Jan;17(1):171-82.
The mortality and morbidity rates of patients with spinal cord injury have decreased greatly. Prior to World War II, few patients survived their acute injuries. Now even severely involved respiratory-dependent patients may return to live in the community. Advanced surgical procedures, when appropriately applied, are decreasing the time of immobility and preventing late spinal deformities. Exciting new developments in basic science research such as the use of thyrotropin-releasing hormone and functional electrical stimulation may alter the whole course of recovery for patients within the foreseeable future. It is likely, however, that the acute management of the patient with spinal cord injury will still demand systematic care by an experienced, multidisciplinary team of professionals.
脊髓损伤患者的死亡率和发病率已大幅下降。在第二次世界大战之前，很少有患者能从急性损伤中存活下来。如今，即使是严重的呼吸依赖患者也可能回归社区生活。先进的外科手术在合理应用时，正在减少患者的固定时间并预防晚期脊柱畸形。基础科学研究中令人兴奋的新进展，如促甲状腺激素释放激素的使用和功能性电刺激，可能在可预见的未来改变患者的整个康复进程。然而，脊髓损伤患者的急性处理可能仍需要经验丰富的多学科专业团队进行系统护理。
