The annual World Spinal Cord Injury Day takes place on September 5th with the aim of raising public awareness of spinal cord injuries. This year's theme is COVID-19 and staying healthy with the help of telemedicine.
Spinal cord injury is understood to be damage to the spinal cord – 90% from trauma and another 10% from diseases such as cancer. There aren't any reliable figures that tell us exactly how many people worldwide are living with a spinal cord injury, but it is estimated that the annual incidence worldwide is between 40-80 people per million, with this injury being most common in men over the age of 20 Years occurs -29.
The degree of disability of a person living with a spinal cord injury depends on the severity and location of the damage to the spinal cord. By and large, there are two types of injuries : incomplete and complete.
Incomplete is present if all nerves are not severed or the nerves are only slightly damaged. Recovery is possible, but never up to the level before the injury.
Complete is when the nerves have been severed and no motor or sensory functions are preserved at this point in time.
The risk of death is highest in the first year of injury and still remains higher than in the general population, and it is estimated that people with spinal cord injuries are 2-5 times higher are more likely to die prematurely.
The risk of death increases due to a number of factors and is significantly influenced by access to specialized health care and the ability to cope with preventable secondary diseases. These secondary conditions are no longer an issue for people living in high income countries, but they are still an issue for those living in low and middle income countries.
Secondary conditions and effects of COVID-19
Secondary complications are pressure ulcers, deep vein thrombosis and respiratory complications, all of which are also known complications of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of these complications are usually prevented by having access to specialized equipment and participating in exercises, both of which have been difficult to access for the past 18 months.
Social distancing, lockdowns, and overwhelmed acute hospitals have shifted key rehabilitation facilities and staff during the pandemic, and people with spinal cords have had to find other ways to access health services. As with many other long-term illnesses, telemedicine has become the standard solution for access to health services during this difficult time.
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It is estimated that the use of telemedicine by healthcare professionals treating people with spinal cord injuries during the pandemic has increased by
25%
60% of them are of the opinion that the technology does not meet the needs of their patients . This is in contrast to primary care doctors, who are concerned with treating other health conditions for people with spinal cord injuries, who believe that most of their patients' needs are being met. It is possible that this difference highlights the inherent complexities and limitations in the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
In any event, telemedicine currently provides a lifeline for people with spinal cord injuries, and while work needs to be done to improve it for people with spinal cord injuries, we should be grateful that it provides access to vital health services during the period Pandemic.
Activities on World Spinal Cord Injury Day
Spinal Cord Injury Program Testimonial – “This course is generally great, educational, and well-crafted with good resources! You wouldn't ask for more. It definitely changed the way I serve my own customers. I have been refreshed and I intend to share this knowledge with my colleagues to ensure that we improve the quality of life of our clients with SCI. ”
