Comments on “Gunshot injury to spine: An institutional experience of management and complications from a developing country”-----The need for an interdisciplinary spinal cord injury rehabilitation for improving outcomes in patients with gunshot injury to spine

This letter emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation to improve recovery, reduce complications, enhance functional outcomes, and facilitate community re-integration for patients with gunshot-related SCI, especially in low-middle income countries like Pakistan. Early SCI rehabilitation, starting in the intensive care unit, is crucial for preventing complications such as pressure ulcers, contractures, and spasticity, and for promoting early community reintegration. The letter also points out that a lack of knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention and delayed identification of early signs of skin breakdown contribute to the high incidence of pressure ulcers in SCI patients in Pakistan, highlighting the need for better education and preventive strategies.

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  Early rehabilitation decreases complications and improves outcomes.
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  Interdisciplinary teams improve functional outcomes compared to those without comprehensive rehabilitation.
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  Vocational rehabilitation is important for community reintegration and reducing financial burden on families.