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Biomedical subjects

G H Ungar

Publications and source records attributed to G H Ungar.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Continuing care of the spinal cord injured.

The functions of a comprehensive Spinal Cord Unit do not cease with the discharge of the patient from in-patient treatment after rehabilitation; they extend to aftercare, both in medical follow-up and prevention and treatment of complications, and in ongoing support and education of the patient and his family. An effective aftercare service must offer a life-long commitment to patients, and the aftercare team must include members of the disciplines which were involved in the initial rehabilitation, and also often others. Although demanding of time, resources and money, good aftercare is cost-effective in terms of savings in the cost of out-patient treatment and of re-admissions to hospital for the treatment of complications, and in maintaining many patients in the community, often as contributing members of society.

Aftercare

Data collection on spinal cord injuries: urological outcome.

Analysis of 628 consecutive admissions to the Spinal Injuries Unit, Austin Hospital, between July 1978 and December, 1985 illustrates the value of a comprehensive data collection system which has been developed at the hospital since 1978. Some brief epidemiological data is presented, together with a detailed analysis of the urological outcome of patients with traumatic lesions whose discharge has been completed. A high rate of catheter-free status and urine sterility at discharge is reported, and factors affecting these results are analysed. The authors hope that an international system of data collection can be developed in the future to allow meaningful comparison of results between units.

Data Collection

Data on spinal injuries--Part I. Collection and analysis of 352 consecutive admissions.

A prospective system of data collection, using computer storage, has been developed in the Spinal Injuries Unit, Austin Hospital. Three hundred and fifty-two consecutive admissions to the Unit between 1 July 1978 and 31 December 1982 are analysed, and this epidemiological data compared with other reports. Over 92% of the admissions were the result of spinal cord trauma and the balance due to a variety of non-traumatic causes. A high incidence of young males injured in road accidents, predominantly from motor cars, and lesser numbers from sporting, occupational and domestic accidents is noted. A high proportion of country accidents and a disproportionately high number of people who live in country areas indicates the need for greater concentration of preventative measures to rural areas. The study has confirmed the usefulness of such a sophisticated data collection system to collect, at relatively low cost, useful epidemiological data on a specific disability group. The system will help to plan treatment programmes, as well as preventative measures, for the future.

Accidents, Traffic

Data on spinal injuries--Part II. Outcome of the treatment of 352 consecutive admissions.

The data collection system described in a previous study has been used to analyze some of the results of treatment of 352 consecutive admissions to the Spinal Injuries Unit, Austin Hospital. The results indicate that the basically conservative approach to the management of the spinal injury, supplemented by surgery in selected cases, appears to be vindicated by the low rate of instability of the spine, and good neurological sequelae of the spinal cord injury. An intermittent catheter regimen for management of the neurogenic bladder has resulted in a low rate of permanent indwelling catheterization on discharge from hospital and a low rate of urinary infections. The survival rate of patients in a well integrated unit, with a multi-disciplinary team, is high. The relatively long periods of hospitalization are justified by the return to the community of a high proportion of independent, healthy, disabled people.

Activities of Daily Living

Elbow disorders.

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Brachial Plexus Neuritis