Understanding Paraplegia

The extent to which that hospital, under direction of Dr. L. Guttmann, has been responsible for progress in the treatmen'1 paraplegia is well known throughout the world. During the First World War. 80% of the victims of spinal injury died in the first few months. Now, the death'r:j, is less than 8%, and over 85% of the patients treated at Stoke Mandeville are gaiii^. employed, lead a full and interesting social life, and enjoy travel, arts, sport and ^ forms of entertainment. j In this book, Dr. Walsh describes what paraplegia means to the sufferer and to family, and how greater awareness of the problem in general can result in increa5 help in the rehabilitation of the victim. The book gives practical information to patient, and to those who help to care for him or are concerned with his welfare-simple terms, sufficient anatomy and physiology is given to understand the daniai?e the nervous system and the symptoms which follow. Reasons are explained for various methods of treatment, and even for refraining from giving some of the ment the patients may wish for. From the onset, the patient and his relatives are led to expect a return to work 3 , active life within the year, but, in spite of the optimism, they are left in no doubt ab ; the seriousness of the condition, the inevitable permanent disabilities, and about fact that rehabilitation involves hard work on the part of the sufferer. There is s?' very interesting, concrete information about every aspect of adjustment the patient ' to make: movement, posture, bowels and bladder function, protection of the skin a care of special equipment. The chapters about transport, wheelchairs and holidays particularly interesting.