Rehabilitation following injury to the spinal cord.

There are several key aspects in the rehabilitation of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury, including the delivery of lifelong resources and services. Rehabilitation must commence as early as possible after the injury and encompass secondary and tertiary prevention efforts in order to minimize the personal and social consequences associated with neurotrauma. Recent advances in molecular neurobiology and new information gained from randomized clinical trials may help reduce the consequences of this type of injury. These advances need to be extended and research must be encouraged.