No abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophe that affects the individual, the partner, the family and the community. Society is involved in the broader sense, in the funding of the treatment and long-term support of individuals with SCI. SCI causes complex medical, physical, psychological, social and financial interactions. Although the physiological impairment following a SCI typically affects the locomotor and sensory systems, there is nearly always a resulting dysfunction that affects most bodily systems. Both the multi-system physiological impairment/dysfunction and non-medical aspects of SCI remain in a dynamic state for the rest of the individual’s life. This means that lifelong treatment and monitoring is required by a dedicated multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary team of health and social care professionals.