ABC of Spinal Cord Injury: Transfer of Care From Hospital

Discharge from hospital is a complicated process for both paraplegic and tetraplegic patients. Physical care is a major concern, and the difference between different levels of injury is profound. Paraplegics and low tetraplegics are usually independent so long as they have access to a toilet with a padded seat to prevent pressure sores from prolonged sitting. Achieving good care depends on educating the patient, his family, and the community staff. The patient should be expert at understanding and, so far as possible, caring for his own body.

• 1
  Paraplegics usually become selfcaring; those with low tetraplegia, especially if young, may also achieve independence, but those with high tetraplegia need someone else to take care of their physical needs to varying degrees.
• 2
  Self intermittent catheterisation is the method of choice for most women paraplegics and some low tetraplegics, and also for an appreciable number of men.
• 3
  When a patient with high tetraplegia goes home from hospital without any help from outside the family the pressure is often too great, and a breakdown of family relationships is likely.