Postoperative management and acute rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injuries.

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.