Management of spinal cord injury in a general hospital in rural India.

Two hundred eighteen patients with spinal injury treated in a general hospital in rural India are analysed. One hundred and twenty-five of them had neurological deficit. The commonest cause for spinal injury was falling from trees (55.2%). Rescue and retrieval systems for these patients were inadequate and knowledge regarding precautions to be taken when transporting the patient was lacking. The frequency of decubitus ulceration and of urinary tract infections were unacceptably high. A high percentage of patients with cervical spine injury expired. The study highlights the necessity for appropriate preventive measures, and also reemphasizes the short-comings of treatment of spinal cord injury patients in general hospitals.