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DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1546277
Spinal Cord Injury in the Child and Young Adult
Publication History
Publication Date:
20 February 2015 (online)
L. C. Vogel, K. Zebracki, R. R. Betz, M. J. Mulcahey, eds. Spinal Cord Injury in the Child and Young Adult. (Clinics in Developmental Medicine) London, UK: Mac Keith Press; 2014 (448 pages). ISBN 978–1-909962–34–7. EUR 162.00
Ranald Betz and M. J. Mulcahey had earlier edited a volume, “The child with a spinal cord injury” in 1996. This new volume is thus a timely addition to the topic, with two additional editors, and 62 contributing authors.
The book is structured in the following eight sections: Overview, Early Management of Spinal Cord Injury, Unique Issues in Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury, Medical Management, Neuromusculoskeletal Management, Physical Rehabilitation, Psychosocial Issues, Research Priorities and Future Directions, including 29 chapters in total. The objective of providing a comprehensive overview is well achieved. As formulated by the editors, spinal cord injury (SCI) is comparatively rare, but it is particular for the following two reasons: it requires a concerted effort of numerous involved specialists (including nursing, nutrition, psychologists, etc.), and its long lifespan needs to consider issues of transition, aging, and life care planning. In several chapters, this long-term aspect (in fields of medical care, rehabilitation, general lifetime planning, and psychosocial aspects) is included. Needless to recall the general notion that children differ from adults—this aspect is particularly relevant in SCI, and it has a major impact on the overall management. A chapter is included on “nontraumatic pediatric spinal cord injury.”
The book is an easy read and inspiring. The chapters are well–structured, with subtitles, they usually start with a case vignette introducing the topic, and they end with a concise summary. Numerous tables, schematic diagrams, and score sheets facilitate the overview.
This book will prove to be a useful resource and is recommended to all those who are involved in the comprehensive care of children and young adults with spinal cord injury.