[Rehabilitation of spinal cord injury patients]

The life expectancy of patients with spinal cord injury has increased linearly in the past five decades, but continues to be below that of their non disabled peers. This improvement was achieved through better knowledge of the pathophysiology of the multisystem impairments caused by spinal cord injury. The main treatment goals in spinal cord injury are to prevent complications, to obtain optimal function (depending on the affected neurological level), to facilitate social re-integration, and to provide specialized follow-up throughout life. This comprehensive management must be provided in spinal units, using a multidisciplinary approach.