Minimum technical standards and recommendations for spinal cord injury management in emergencies

Health emergencies that cause large numbers of traumatic injuries can result in surges of spinal cord injuries (SCI) in a short period of time, that can easily overwhelm health system capacities. Limited specialized services, lack of awareness or knowledge of SCI management and weak coordination mechanisms may lead to significant delays in appropriate care for patients who have sustained a SCI, resulting in preventable and potentially life-threatening complications. Correct initial management of patients with SCI is vital to long-term survival and quality of life.

This document complements the guidance provided by the WHO EMT publication "Classification and minimum standards for emergency medical teams" and has been developed to inform about the often-unmet need for SCI care in emergencies. It provides practical guidance on additional components of SCI specific emergency care for Member States, ministries of health, national and international EMTs and other key stakeholders wishing to build and enhance specialist SCI management surge capacity and capability; and defines minimum standards for the development and classification of respective specialized care teams (SCTs) within the EMT framework.