Skip to main content

POLICY AND PRACTICE REVIEWS article

Front. Rehabil. Sci.
Sec. Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fresc.2024.1371556

Evidence based clinical practice guideline for follow-up care in persons with spinal cord injury

Provisionally accepted
Inge Eriks-Hoogland Inge Eriks-Hoogland 1,2,3*Lorena Müller Lorena Müller 1Michael Baumberger Michael Baumberger 3Burkhart Huber Burkhart Huber 4Franz Michel Franz Michel 5Celina Belfrage Celina Belfrage 3Hicham Elmerghini Hicham Elmerghini 3Mide Veseli Mide Veseli 3Ralf Böthig Ralf Böthig 6Kai Fiebag Kai Fiebag 6Roland Thietje Roland Thietje 6Xavier Jordan Xavier Jordan 7
  • 1 Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland
  • 2 Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
  • 3 Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland
  • 4 AUVA Rehabilitation Centre, Häring, Austria
  • 5 Klinik für Neurorehabilitation und Paraplegiologie, REHAB Basel, Basel, Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland
  • 6 Centre for Spinal Injuries, Departement Neuro-Urology, BG Trauma Hospital, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  • 7 Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Valais, Switzerland

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: While it is well-established that follow-up care programs play a crucial role in preventing and early detecting secondary health conditions (SHCs) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI, including spina bifida (SB)), the availability of evidence-based follow-up care programs remains limited. Under the leadership of the German-speaking Medical Society for Paraplegiology (DMGP), we have developed an evidence based clinical practice guideline for follow-up care of SHCs in persons with SCI and identify research gaps.Methods: This guideline was developed in accordance with the regulations of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF e.V.). To ensure an evidence-based guidance, we utilized the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) generic core set and ICF Core Set for individuals with SCI in long-term context as our foundational framework. We conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify existing recommendations for follow-up care and graded the level of evidence according to relevant instruments. Subsequently, we formulated recommendations and achieved consensus through a structured nominal group process involving defined steps and neutral moderation, while adhering to the criteria outlined in the German guideline development instrument (DELBI).Although there is a fair number of literatures describing prevalence and severity of SHCs after SCI, the amount of literature including recommendations was low (19 for SCI and 6 for SB).Based on the current evidence on prevalence and severity of SHCs and available recommendations, a clinical practice guideline on follow-up care of most relevant SHCs was defined.The recommendations for follow-up care are described in the following chapters: 1.

    Keywords: spinal cord injury1, spinal cord disease2, spina bifida3, lifelong follow-up care4, prevention5, outpatient care6, guideline7, (Min.5-Max. 8) Nervous system, 2. (Neuropathic) pain, 3. Cardiovascular diseases, 4. Respiratory System, 5. Immunological system, vaccination and allergies, 6. Gastrointestinal tract and function, 7. Endocrinological system and nutrition, 8. Urogenital system

    Received: 16 Jan 2024; Accepted: 09 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Eriks-Hoogland, Müller, Baumberger, Huber, Michel, Belfrage, Elmerghini, Veseli, Böthig, Fiebag, Thietje and Jordan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Inge Eriks-Hoogland, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.