Rehabilitation after spinal cord injury treatment

What doctors are needed for successful rehabilitation

• Neurologist,
• Rehabilitation specialist,
• Physical therapist,
• An erotic therapist is a doctor who directly helps the patient cope with everyday tasks, selects adapted cutlery and kitchen appliances,
• Psychologist,
• Neuropsychologist,
• A specialist in swallowing — is needed if a gastrostomy has been established or there has been a violation of swallowing for other reasons,
• Neurologist,
• Specialists who care for the patient during rehabilitation

What are the features of rehabilitation after spinal injury

• The patient’s condition is evaluated on special scales — the most common FIM, after which a rehabilitation plan is drawn up,
• You need exercises for proper positioning in bed and in a wheelchair, breathing exercises-
  they serve as a prevention of congestion in the lungs,
• It is necessary to provide conditions for avoiding long-term passive positions — to reduce the
  risk of thrombosis and congestive pneumonia

How is the rehabilitation after spinal cord injuries abroad

The patient’s condition is assessed according to the Bartel index, a scale that shows the patient`s activity and the patient`s need for care.

• The indicator from 0 to 20 points corresponds to a complete dependence,
• From 21 points to 60 points-pronounced dependence,
• From 61 to 90 points — moderate dependence,
• From 91 to 99 points — easy addiction in everyday life

For patients who are undergoing full rehabilitation, the program is as follows:

• Phase A-rehabilitation in the intensive care unit or intensive care unit (takes place in the acute period of the disease or the need for oxygen, the presence of a tracheostomy).
• Phase B-rehabilitation in patients with a Bartel index of less than 25 points, but without the need for intensive care. He takes place in a hospital, most of the rehabilitation consists of breathing exercises and exercises with the help of adapted shoes and special computer systems, classes on functional beds.
• Phase C-rehabilitation in patients with a Bartel index of 26 −65 points. In this case, exercises for gait, training of fine motor skills, prevention and relief of pain are of great importance.
  Experienced psychologists and occupational therapists help you adapt to social life. Some patients may go through this stage partially on an outpatient basis.
• Phase D-rehabilitation in patients with the Bartel index of 66-100 points. It takes courses or remotely, depending on the needs of the patient. Most often, it is aimed at preventing pain and restoring movement in the joints and limbs, as well as working with social educators and psychotherapists.

Of course, not all patients enter the rehabilitation program being completely unable to serve themselves, and not all restore their functional abilities to 100 points. However, after a large number of spinal cord injuries, vertebral prostheses and neurosurgical operations, with timely treatment, the function can be restored completely.