Early Acute Management in Adults With Spinal Cord Injury: A Clinical Practice Guideline for Health-Care Professionals
Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine
Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine. (2008).
Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 31(4), 403-479.
This clinical practice guideline examines the management of adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the early acute phase of recovery. Recommendations are intended to ensure optimal care for patients during the first few days post spinal cord injury when life-saving interventions and efforts at preventing secondary complications are most crucial. Although many recommendations address management options outside the scope of speech-language pathology and audiology, provided recommendations discuss communication, language, alternative and augmentative communication, dysphagia, and cognitive-communication impairments.
Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine
<div>"Develop protocols that allow rehabilitation specialists to become involved early in the management of persons with [spinal cord injury] SCI immediately following injury during the acute hospitalization phase" (Ungraded, Strength of Panel Recommendation: 5; p. 419).</div>
<div>"Evaluate swallowing function prior to oral feeding in any acute SCI patient with cervical spinal cord injury, halo fixation, cervical spine surgery, prolonged intubation, tracheotomy, or concomitant TBI" (Grade I/II/III/IV Evidence, Grade A Recommendation, Strength of Panel Recommendation: 5; p. 418).</div>
<div>For individuals with SCI, prescribe interventions for functional and/or augmentative communication, swallowing, cognition and language deficits (from concomitant TBI) as well as preventative measures against complications. Educate the individual and their family about the course of rehabilitation and include them in discharge planning discussions (Ungraded, Strength of Panel Recommendation: 5).</div>
