The Burden And Public Health Importance Of Spinal Cord Injury In India: A Review

Abstract

An accident or traumatic injury to the spinal cord may result in a serious and irreversible spinal cord injury. Such spinal injury causes significant changes in the life of the injured person and his or her family members. Spinal cord injury can require extreme physical, locomotor and psychological adaptation which exerts enormous pressure on the patients’ families, who plays critically vital roles in providing support and care. It is a struggle for both the victims and their families. Few studies have captured exactly not mere the major physical injury but also the long-term consequences of spinal cord injury in the patients living with such injuries over time. Besides impacting the health, well-being and psychosocial behaviors of individual victims but also the interpersonal relationship within the family members. The objectives of the study are to identify the burdens of Spinal cord injury and the challenges faced by persons with spinal cord injury in their day-to-day life in India and to know the intervention strategies to enhance the quality of life of persons with spinal cord injury. Therefore, the current study besides highlighting the issues faced by SCI patients also helps in greater understanding of the burden of spinal cord injury and its public health importance in India.