When we look back on the history of spinal cord injury, it is evident that a lot has progressed over the years. What used to be a life or death experience now offers the opportunity to still live life fully with high-quality support in place.
The early years
Before the early years of the last century, a spinal cord injury was considered fatal due to the inability to heal pressure sores and urinary tract infections. With no understanding of spinal cord injury, it was difficult for those studying to discover the steps to ensure the best recovery possible. While it is still not considered curable, this generation of spinal cord injuries can live a higher standard of life in comparison.
In Egypt 3000 BC, Edwin Smith noted the first description of paraplegia in the surgical papyrus. In the pre-renaissance period, Roland of Parma, a student in Salerno, began using a manual extension to treat fractured spines and was the first to emphasise one of the most credible points of modern practice – the urgency for early treatment.
Early development in the UK
Two surgeons, Astley Cooper (1768-1841) and Charles Bell (1774-1842), spent many years working on their interest in spinal injury treatment after London teaching hospitals were in development. Cooper’s teacher, Henry Cline (1750-1827), was the first surgeon to perform the laminectomy for spinal-related conditions.
Bell’s approach to spinal injury was more of a modern solution as opposed to laminectomy, which was something the two openly disagreed on. Bell soon discovered that the damage to the spinal cord occurred on injury rather than after any lingering pressure, shedding light on the importance of immediate diagnosis without the need for the operation, naming it both dangerous and useless.
As he continued his studies, he was the first surgeon to point out that, in cases of paraplegia, many deaths were due to the retention of urine and inflammation of the renal tract.
While there wasn’t much advancement in treatment throughout the 19th century, experts worked hard to understand spinal injuries.
19th-century research
A shocking 90% of people who had an SCI died within the year of diagnosis during the first world war. By the 1960s, despite progress throughout the 1950s with the introduction of regional spinal cord Injury centres, a 35% mortality rate remained amongst those living with tetraplegia.
During the first world war, it was discovered that a modern method to support and manage spinal injuries was required. Before this period, although existent, spinal injury cases were at a minimum, and surgeons took a lot of time to gather a collection of cases to study the issue efficiently.
After the first world war caused the UK, France and Germany to experience an overwhelming spike in spinal related injuries, statistics highlighted the similarities between cases. Teamwork was crucial here, and surgeons, neurologists and urologists worked hard to get to the bottom of spinal cord injury while high mortality rates continued daily.
What we have learned in recent years
While not at a standard where it is curable, in recent years, improvements in the repair of spinal cord injury have progressed to a level where research is still fundamental and proving useful.
Although new drug developments or surgical solutions have advanced, the methods taken to limit damage, including focusing on the care provided by paramedics at the scene of injury and how doctors and therapists work in harmony to support the injured with their independence, have been key in transforming the rehabilitation process.
The most prominent change is that we now know how to minimise side effects such as kidney and bladder infections, pressure sores and more, which were issues that proved fatal in previous centuries.
The way we utilise rehabilitation has changed too. In the early 90s, SCI experts were only just developing an understanding that rehabilitation was more than devices and tools, physical therapy could help with managing a spinal cord injury too.
Today, exercise has become a standard aspect of the rehabilitation process, with evidence that for people with an incomplete motor spinal cord injury, it can trigger a certain degree of function in regular activities. With many human trials still happening now and in the future, research has found that spinal cord stimulation has helped with recovery in functional patterns.
Aspire Law are here to help
The history of spinal cord injury is intriguing, but the future is bright. At Aspire Law, we work hard to support those with spinal cord injury to live a better, more independent life despite adversity. Get in touch with us today to find out more about how we can help you.
