Spinal surgery for acute traumatic spinal cord injury: Implications for nursing

Abstract

Spinal fixation surgery has become a key option in the management of acute traumatic spinal cord injury. There is, however, considerable debate about the role of spinal surgery in spinal cord injury management and research evidence is conflicting. Nurses have a vital role in the pre- and postoperative care of patients undergoing spinal surgery. Although the principles of pre- and postoperative care are the same as in other surgical procedures, the care of patients with spinal cord injury requires specialist and specific nursing care. There is a need for good quality nursing research that will provide evidence to inform nursing care and enable patients to make informed decisions about their early spinal cord injury management.