Introduction to Rehabilitative Surgery

Abstract

The paralyzed or severely neurologically impaired patient is one of the greatest challenges in long-term chronic care that we face as clinicians, whether we are therapists or neurologists, physiatrists, or surgeons. Because of the complexity of their treatment and the severity of their injury, these patients may be viewed as a hopeless cause for many physicians, especially surgeons. Optimization of their care – and potentially improvement in quality and length of life – requires a complex and delicate interaction between multiple surgical and medical specialties across disciplines and time.