[Rehabilitation guidelines and specifications for traumatic spinal cord injury (2025 edition)].

OBJECTIVE

To address the lack of unified group standards, inconsistent rehabilitation service processes, and waste of rehabilitation resources in the field of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) rehabilitation in China, a standardized rehabilitation specifications for TSCI was established based on the 2017 expert consensus, the latest evidence-based medical evidence, and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework.

METHODS

Led by the China Rehabilitation Research Center and funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China and the Capital Health Research and Development of Special Funds, this guideline was developed by experts from multiple renowned domestic institutions, drawing on international experience and combining it with clinical practice in China.

RESULTS

Rehabilitation Guidelines and Specifications for Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (2025 Edition) clarifies the terminology and definitions of TSCI and specifies standards for the entire process, including pre-hospital first aid, emergency management, clinical diagnosis, acute phase clinical treatment, rehabilitation assessment, and rehabilitation therapy. It details rehabilitation protocols such as physical therapy (motor therapy), occupational therapy, vocational rehabilitation, social rehabilitation, and psychological rehabilitation. Furthermore, it provides specific rehabilitation management strategies for common complications involving the respiratory system, bowel, bladder, cardiovascular system, as well as pain, spasticity, and pressure injuries.

CONCLUSION

This guideline is applicable to medical and health institutions at all levels involved in the diagnosis and treatment of TSCI. Early, accurate, and standardized rehabilitation treatment can effectively reduce disability rates, restore limb function, and improve patients' quality of life. The formulation of this guideline provides a significant basis for the standardized treatment and rehabilitation of TSCI patients in China.