Spinal cord injuries typically strike young, previously healthy persons, and leaves the individual with a severe, life-lasting impairment affecting all organ systems. Without adequate management, the risk of severe morbidity and mortality is very high. In contrast state-of-the-art management makes it possible for most persons with SCI to lead long, fulfilling, and autonomous lives despite neurological impairment. This book covers all medical and surgical aspects of modern SCI management from the scene of the accident through rehabilitation to the life-long follow up.

Anders Holtz, MD, PhD is a Specialist in Orthopedic surgery and Neurosurgery who has worked clinically and in applied SCI research more than 20 years at the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Uppsala Uppsala, Sweden Richard Levi, MD, PhD, Richard Levi, MD, PhD is currently Professor and Head, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

1 History 2 Epidemiology 3 Spinal Cord Anatomy and Physiology 4 Pathophysiology of Spinal Cord Injury 5 Clinical Examination 6 Management at the Scene of an Accident 7 Management at the Hospital 8 Diagnostic Methods 9 Pharmacological Treatment 10 Presentation of Chapters 10-15 "Injuries to the Spinal Column and Ligaments" 11 Upper Cervical Spine Fractures and Ligament Injuries (C0-CII) 12 Lower Cervical Spine Fractures and Ligament Injuries (CIII-CVII) 13 Surgical Management of Injuries to the Cervical Spine 14 Thoraco-lumbar Fractures and Ligament Injuries 15 Conservative Treatment Following Injuries to the Spinal Column 16 Children with Spinal Cord Injury 17 Cervical Spinal Column and Spinal Cord Injuries in Athletes 18 Penetrating Injuries 19 Nontraumatic Myelopathies 20 Psychosocial Factors 21 Pain 22 Musculoskeletal Problems 23 Compression Neuropathies 24 Circulatory and Respiratory Disorders 25 Gastrointestinal Problems 26 Urogenital Sequelae Including Sexual Dysfunction 27 Pressure Ulcers 28 Sleep Disturbances 29 Women with Spinal Cord Injury 30 Rehabilitative Neurosurgery 31 Paramedical Rehabilitation 32 The Aging Patient 33 Long-term Follow-up after Spinal Cord Injury 34 Research and Development within the Field of Spinal Cord Injury Index