New guidelines aid trauma centers in evaluation, management of spinal injuries
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The American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Programs released new guidelines for trauma centers with recommendations for evaluation and management of adults with spinal column fractures and spinal cord injuries, according to a release.
The collaborative efforts from a panel of leaders in the orthopedic and neurosurgery professions provided recommendations for the epidemiology of spinal injury, pre-hospital spinal motion restriction, cervical collar clearance, appropriate imaging, early mobilization and rehabilitation.
According to the release, the guidelines also provide information and recommendations for the following:
- physical exams for evaluation of spinal cord injury (SCI);
- classification systems for spinal column and spinal cord injuries;
- indications for nonoperative and operative management;
- mean arterial pressure-directed therapy and the limitations of its supporting data; and
- management of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, neurogenic and spinal shock, SCI-induced bradycardia, ventilator management and analgesia.
“The Spine Injury Best Practices Guidelines is an excellent resource for the diagnosis and management of the trauma patient with spine and spinal cord injuries,” Christine Cocanour, MD, FACS, chair of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma’s Best Practices Guidelines Committee. “The section on implementation suggests how to incorporate the recommendations into each trauma center’s care and the section on integration provides methods for integrating care for spine injury into trauma center performance improvement. Overall, I believe that it will improve care for the spine and spinal cord injured patient,” Cocanour added.
Reference:
https://www.facs.org/-/media/files/quality-programs/trauma/tqip/spine_injury_guidelines.ashx
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