Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 23, 2025

Development of Combinatorial Therapeutics for Spinal Cord Injury using Stem Cell Delivery
Published on: June 7, 2024
Interdisciplinary care for spinal cord injured refugees
Margaret W Jones1, Deborah A Crane2
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Introduction:
For war-injured refugees, spinal cord injury (SCI) is a leading cause of catastrophic neurologic injury and literature focused on the care of this vulnerable population is sparse. This case series describes the unique challenges presented to an outpatient interdisciplinary rehabilitation team in providing SCI care in the USA for refugees who suffered their SCI in their home countries.
Case Presentation:
Our interdisciplinary rehabilitation team faced challenges related to language, cultural and educational barriers which impacted the typical standard rehabilitation care offered to these individuals. Many of the individuals were focused on curative treatments. As such, managing expectations and educating individuals to rehabilitation practices for chronic SCI and lack of curative treatments for associated medical complications affected the provision of care across all disciplines of the rehabilitation team.
Discussion:
This case series showcases the challenges of caring for international refugees with SCI. The care offered to these individuals highlights the benefits that an interdisciplinary SCI rehabilitation approach can provide to comprehensively care for this vulnerable population.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...
Acute Kidney Injury V: Interprofessional Care
Aneurysm III: Interprofessional Care
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Spinal Cord

