Pharmacological Management of Spinal Cord Injuries
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Every year there are around 17,700 new cases of spinal cord injuries in the United States of America, most commonly from vehicular accidents and falls[1]. The primary injury in these events is a compression, tear, or dissection of the spinal cord in the spinal column. Often, there is a secondary injury to the peripheral nerves off the dorsal and ventral roots, an inflammatory response, and subsequent axonal degeneration[2]. These injuries carry a high price for care, as lifetime costs can range from $1.6 to $4.9 million if injury occurs at age 25. Life expectancy has not improved substantially since the 1980s, and the leading causes of death are pneumonia and septicemia[1].
The symptoms of spinal cord injury are managed with pharmacological interventions that target: pain, spasticity and inflammation[3]. Controlling these symptoms can help limit further complications such as autonomic dysreflexia, initiate tissue repair, and help patients and physical therapists preserve or restore function[4].
