Abstract
Associated severe injuries in patients with traumatic paraplegia or tetraplegia are common and in different reported series, including that mentioned in this paper, occur in some 25 per cent. of patients with closed spinal injuries, and up to 65 per cent. with open wounds of the spine.
The diagnosis of the injuries in these patients presents particular difficulties and the important points are detailed, along with commoner sites and the frequency of these injuries. Head injury is the commonest severe associated injury with a cervical cord lesion, and chest injury with a serious injury to the dorsal spine.
Complex clinical problems often ensue, requiring intelligent first aid and rapid transportation to the accident service of a comprehensive hospital, where routine resuscitative measures are applied and investigations and special surgical medical treatments instituted. Priorities of treatment are discussed.
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Harris, P. Associated injuries in traumatic paraplegia and tetraplegia. Spinal Cord 5, 215–220 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1967.34
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1967.34