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Conditions

EMERGENCY:Suspected spinal cord injury after trauma —call040-46324365immediately — 24 hours, 7 days— 24/7

TRAUMATIC NEUROLOGY

Spinal Cord Injury in Hyderabad: Emergency Immobilisation, Decompression Within 24 Hours, and Lifelong Rehabilitation — the KIMS Neuroscience team at KIMS

Q: My son was in a road accident and cannot move his legs. The doctor says it is a cervical spine injury. Does this mean he will be paralysed forever?

The prognosis for any SCI depends on whether the injury is complete or incomplete. The most important finding in the first examination: sacral sparing — any sensation at the perineum (saddle area) or any ability to voluntarily squeeze the anal sphincter means the injury is incomplete and neurological recovery is possible. An incomplete cervical SCI (ASIA B, C, or D) that receives emergency surgical decompression within 24 hours has a meaningful chance of significant motor recovery — many patients regain the ability to walk, with varying degrees of assistance. A complete injury (ASIA A, no sacral sparing) has a very low probability of meaningful motor recovery. At KIMS, the ASIA examination is performed immediately after resuscitation and spinal imaging to determine the degree of completeness, which guides both surgical urgency and family counselling. Please call 040-46324365 immediately.

Q: My mother fell from the stairs and has a thoracic spine fracture. The scan shows the fracture is stable. Does she still need surgery?

Not all spinal fractures require surgery — the decision depends on stability (whether the fracture is likely to displace further with normal movement) and neurological involvement (whether the spinal cord or nerve roots are compressed). Stable fractures without neurological deficit can often be managed with a thoracolumbar brace (TLSO) and careful mobilisation under physiotherapy guidance. Unstable fractures (where the fracture pattern suggests the spine cannot bear normal loads without risking further displacement and cord damage) require surgical stabilisation — even without neurological deficit — to prevent secondary cord injury. At KIMS, the stability is assessed using CT three-column classification (Denis classification) and MRI for ligamentous injury, which together determine the surgical threshold. Please call 040-44885000 for a specialist assessment.

Q: My husband has had a spinal cord injury and is now experiencing sudden severe headache, face flushing, and sweating. He says his blood pressure is very high on the home monitor. What should we do?

This is autonomic dysreflexia — a medical emergency specific to SCI above T6. The high blood pressure (often 200/120 mmHg or higher) is caused by a reflex hypertensive surge from a stimulus below the injury level that the damaged spinal cord cannot regulate. The most common triggers are: a full bladder (the most common — check the catheter is not kinked; if on CIC, perform CIC immediately); constipation or faecal impaction; pressure sore or tight clothing. Act immediately: sit your husband upright (this alone reduces blood pressure by lowering the head relative to the heart); loosen any tight clothing, straps, or footwear; check the urinary catheter and empty the bladder; if faecal impaction is suspected, apply anaesthetic gel (lidocaine gel) to the rectum before dis-impaction. If BP remains critically elevated or if symptoms are severe, call 040-46324365 immediately. Sublingual nifedipine 5–10mg or glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray is the emergency pharmacological treatment. Do not ignore this and do not lie him flat.

Q: My daughter has a spinal cord injury at T10 and is paraplegic. She wants to live independently. Is this realistic?

Yes — and this is not just hope. Thoracic SCI at T10 leaves full arm and hand function, good trunk stability (T10 is mid-thoracic, sparing much of the trunk musculature), and no respiratory compromise. Many people with T10 paraplegia achieve full independence in a wheelchair: independent transfers (bed to wheelchair to car); independent driving with hand controls; independent bladder management with self-catheterisation; and full employment in virtually all knowledge-work and many physical occupations. The KIMS rehabilitation programme builds toward these functional goals from the first day of inpatient rehabilitation. Home modification, vehicle adaptation, and workplace accessibility assessment are part of the KIMS occupational therapy programme. Please call 040-44885000 to discuss your daughter's rehabilitation programme.

Q: My father has been told he needs cervical spine surgery after a spinal cord injury. The surgery sounds very dangerous. What are the risks?

Cervical spine decompression and fusion surgery for SCI is a significant operation, but the risk of not operating when there is cord compression from an unstable fracture-dislocation is far greater than the surgical risk. At KIMS, the specific risks of cervical spine surgery are: bleeding (small risk at cervical level; blood transfusion rarely needed); infection (approximately 1–2%); worsening of neurological function (very rare with meticulous surgical technique — approximately 0.5–1%); adjacent segment disease (the spinal segments above and below a fusion can develop degeneration over years, sometimes requiring further surgery); dysphagia (temporary swallowing difficulty is common after anterior cervical surgery, usually resolving within weeks); and hardware complications (rare with modern titanium instrumentation). The benefit — cord decompression, prevention of further injury, and the opportunity for neurological recovery — substantially outweighs these risks in any patient with an unstable injury compressing the cord. The KIMS team will discuss your father's specific risks and expected outcome before surgery. Call 040-46324365.

Emergency CT and MRI spine, spinal decompression and stabilisation within 24 hours, neurocritical ICU care, and integrated SCI rehabilitation at KIMS Neuroscience, Secunderabad, Hyderabad.

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Traumatic SCI occurs when vertebral fracture, dislocation, or violent compression transmits damaging forces to the spinal cord. The neurological deficit depends on the level and completeness. Key prognostic finding: sacral sparing — any preserved sensation at the perineum or voluntary anal sphincter contraction means the injury is incomplete (ASIA B, C, or D) and neurological recovery is possible. Complete SCI (ASIA A: no sacral sparing) has very low probability of meaningful motor recovery. The STASCIS trial (2012): early surgical decompression (≤24 hours) is associated with at least 2-grade ASIA improvement in 19.8% vs 8.8% with late surgery. Autonomic dysreflexia (above T6): sudden severe headache + flushing + hypertension from a trigger below the level — sit upright immediately and remove the trigger. Spinal shock in the first 72 hours makes early ASIA examination misleading; the definitive assessment is performed after the bulbocavernosus reflex returns.

Sacral sparing = recovery possible: Any preserved sensation at the perineum or any voluntary anal sphincter contraction = ASIA B, C, or D = incomplete injury = neurological recovery possible. Sacral sparing is the single most important prognostic finding in the first examination.
24-hour surgical window (STASCIS 2012): Early decompression (≤24 hours) is associated with at least a 2-grade ASIA improvement in 19.8% of patients vs 8.8% with late surgery. At KIMS: emergency CT and MRI spine on arrival, neurosurgical assessment within 1 hour, operating within 24 hours when indicated.
ASIA A–E classification: A: complete (no sacral sparing) · B: incomplete (sensory only below level, sacral sparing) · C: incomplete (motor below level, <50% of key muscles grade ≥3) · D: incomplete (motor below level, ≥50% of key muscles grade ≥3) · E: normal.
Bulbocavernosus reflex = end of spinal shock: Spinal shock in the first 72 hours produces flaccid paralysis and areflexia regardless of injury completeness. The return of the bulbocavernosus reflex signals end of spinal shock. The definitive prognostic ASIA assessment is performed AFTER the BCR returns.
Autonomic dysreflexia above T6 — emergency: Noxious stimuli below the level (full bladder most common) trigger a reflex hypertensive surge (200/120 mmHg or higher). Immediate management: sit upright, loosen clothing, empty bladder, identify trigger. Sublingual nifedipine 5–10mg if BP remains dangerously elevated. Call 040-46324365.
Methylprednisolone — NOT used at KIMS: The NASCIS methylprednisolone protocol is NOT routinely administered at KIMS for acute SCI — weak and controversial evidence, consistent with current international guidelines.
MAP augmentation — suggested target 75–95 mmHg for 3–7 days: Current guidance supports MAP augmentation to avoid hypotension and maintain spinal cord perfusion after acute SCI, using vasopressors (noradrenaline) in neurogenic shock. A target MAP of 75–80 to 90–95 mmHg for 3–7 days is suggested by current practice guidelines, though the evidence is of low quality and no adequately powered RCT has validated a specific target. The 85–90 mmHg for 7 days figure from earlier AOSpine/NACTN guidance is a reference point, not a fixed mandatory protocol — target and duration are individualised to injury level, neurological response, and comorbidities.

Fact	Details
Mechanism in India	RTA (most common) · Falls from height (construction workers, roof falls) · Diving into shallow water · Sports (wrestling/gymnastics/contact) · Penetrating trauma (less common)
Sacral sparing	Any perineal sensation or voluntary anal sphincter contraction = incomplete injury = recovery possible · ASIA B, C, D · Most important single prognostic finding
STASCIS trial (2012)	Early decompression ≤24h: 2-grade ASIA improvement in 19.8% vs 8.8% with late surgery · KIMS protocol: CT + MRI on arrival, operating within 24 hours
ASIA scale	A: complete (no sacral sparing) · B: sensory incomplete · C: motor incomplete (<50% grade ≥3) · D: motor incomplete (≥50% grade ≥3) · E: normal
Spinal shock	Flaccid paralysis + areflexia in first 72 hours regardless of completeness · BCR return = end of spinal shock · Definitive ASIA exam after BCR
Autonomic dysreflexia	Above T6 · Sudden headache + flushing + hypertension from trigger below level · Sit upright + identify + remove trigger · Sublingual nifedipine if persistent · Emergency 040-46324365
Methylprednisolone	NOT routinely administered at KIMS · Weak evidence (NASCIS protocol) · Consistent with current international guidelines

About This Condition

The Most Important 10 Minutes

A 24-year-old man in Hyderabad is brought to KIMS emergency following a motorcycle crash. He was not wearing a helmet. He has a large laceration on his forehead and is complaining of severe neck pain. He can move his arms weakly but cannot move his legs at all. He cannot feel anything below his chest.

The KIMS emergency team assesses him simultaneously: cervical collar applied immediately; log-rolled onto a spinal board with four-person coordination; airway secured; IV access established; blood pressure noted to be 80/50 mmHg (neurogenic shock from sympathetic nervous system disruption below the SCI). IV fluids and noradrenaline are started to maintain MAP above 85–90 mmHg — adequate blood pressure is essential to perfuse the injured cord.

CT cervical spine (done with the collar on, reconstructed in all planes): fracture-dislocation at C5–C6. The C5 vertebral body is displaced forward, significantly narrowing the spinal canal at that level. CT thoracic and lumbar spine: no injury at other levels. MRI cervical spine (arranged immediately after CT, collar maintained): severe cord compression at C5–C6 from the dislocated vertebra and extruded disc. There is cord signal change (T2 bright signal in the cord, indicating oedema and injury) extending from C4 to C7.

Neurological examination: ASIA B (sensory function preserved below C5 including sacral sparing — he can feel light touch at the perineum; no voluntary motor function below C5). This is an incomplete cervical SCI — the most important prognostic finding because incomplete injuries have the potential for meaningful recovery with early decompression and rehabilitation.

The KIMS Neuroscience team performs emergency anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at C5–C6 combined with posterior cervical stabilisation — a combined anterior-posterior approach — within 14 hours of injury. Intraoperative: the cord is decompressed, the dislocation is reduced, and the spine is stabilised with a plate, screws, and interbody cage. At 6-week follow-up: he has regained voluntary movement in both legs — grade 2–3 hip flexion and knee extension. He is transferred to the KIMS rehabilitation programme. At 6-month follow-up: he is walking with a rollator frame. ASIA grade has improved from B to D.

Book a Consultation

Speak directly with The KIMS Neuroscience team's spinal trauma team. 24-hour emergency surgery available. Monday to Saturday for outpatients.

040-44885000Emergency line: 040-46324365

Key Facts

Quick Facts about Spinal Cord Injury

The essential context: what SCI is, what causes it in India, why the 24-hour surgery window matters, and the critical distinction between complete and incomplete injury.

What it is

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when the spinal column — the bony vertebrae and discs that protect the spinal cord — is fractured, dislocated, or violently compressed, transmitting damaging forces directly to the spinal cord tissue inside. The cord can be contused (bruised), compressed (from displaced bone or disc material), partially torn, or completely transected. The neurological deficit depends on the level of injury (which part of the spine is affected) and the completeness (how much cord function remains below the injury level).

Mechanisms in India

Road traffic accidents: the most common cause of SCI in India, predominantly cervical and thoracolumbar injuries from deceleration trauma in two-wheeler crashes and car accidents. Falls from height: the second most common cause — particularly in construction workers and from roof falls in rural India. Diving injuries: cervical cord injuries from diving into shallow water, particularly in rural India and during monsoon flooding when water depth is misjudged. Sports: axial loading injuries in wrestling (kushti), gymnastics, and contact sport. Penetrating trauma: stab wounds to the spine are a less common but clinically important mechanism.

The 24-hour surgery window

Surgical decompression of the injured spinal cord — removing bone, disc, or haematoma compressing the cord — within 24 hours of SCI is associated with significantly better neurological recovery than delayed surgery. The STASCIS trial (2012) showed that early decompression (≤24 hours) was associated with at least a 2-grade ASIA improvement in 19.8% of patients, compared to 8.8% with late surgery. At KIMS, the protocol is: emergency CT and MRI spine on arrival; neurosurgical assessment within 1 hour; surgical decision within 2 hours; operating within 24 hours when decompression is indicated.

Complete vs incomplete injury

A complete SCI (ASIA A): no motor or sensory function is preserved below the neurological level, including the sacral segments (S4–S5). Meaningful neurological recovery is very unlikely. An incomplete SCI (ASIA B, C, D): some sensory or motor function is preserved below the injury level. Neurological recovery is possible, and varies from partial to near-complete depending on the ASIA grade and the adequacy of decompression and rehabilitation. The most important sign of an incomplete injury: any preserved sensation or voluntary movement below the level, including perineal sensation and voluntary anal sphincter contraction — sacral sparing.

The level of the injury determines which functions are preserved and which are lost. Specific autonomic complications also vary by level.

Cervical SCI — tetraplegia (all four limbs)

Injury at C1–C4: tetraplegia with respiratory paralysis (diaphragm, supplied by C3–C5, is affected — mechanical ventilation required). C4: the highest level where independent breathing may be possible with a functioning diaphragm but no arm or hand function. C5: shoulder and elbow flexion preserved; no wrist or hand function. C6: wrist extension preserved; no grip. C7: triceps preserved; some hand function. C8: intrinsic hand muscles partially preserved; functional grip. The higher the cervical level, the more functions are lost, and the greater the dependence on respiratory support and caregiving.

Thoracic SCI — paraplegia (lower limbs and trunk)

Injury at T1–T12: paraplegia with full arm function preserved (all upper limb nerves leave the spinal cord above T1). Respiratory function is reduced proportionally to the level — thoracic SCI above T6 loses intercostal muscle function, significantly reducing cough strength and vital capacity. Autonomic dysreflexia: a potentially life-threatening hypertensive emergency triggered by noxious stimuli below the level (full bladder, constipation, pressure sore, ingrown toenail) that is specific to SCI above T6. Produces sudden severe headache, flushing, sweating above the level, and dangerously elevated blood pressure. Treated by identifying and removing the triggering stimulus. At KIMS, every patient with SCI above T6 and their carers are specifically trained in autonomic dysreflexia recognition and management.

Lumbar / conus and cauda equina SCI

Injury at L1–L5 or the conus medullaris: varying degrees of lower limb weakness, with upper motor neuron signs if the conus is involved or lower motor neuron signs (flaccid, areflexic weakness) if the cauda equina is involved. Cauda equina injury produces a peripheral nerve pattern of injury (because the cauda equina consists of nerve roots, not the cord itself) with greater potential for recovery than cord-level injury. Bladder and bowel involvement from sacral nerve root injury. Saddle anaesthesia (numbness in the perineal area). Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a surgical emergency: new onset of bilateral lower limb weakness, saddle anaesthesia, and bladder dysfunction after lumbar trauma or disc prolapse requires emergency decompression within hours.

Spinal shock — the first 72 hours

In the immediate aftermath of SCI, spinal shock produces a transient period of flaccid paralysis and areflexia below the injury level, regardless of whether the injury is ultimately complete or incomplete. This flaccid period can last hours to days and can make the initial neurological examination misleading — a patient who appears to have complete motor paralysis in spinal shock may have an incomplete injury with real potential for recovery. The return of the bulbocavernosus reflex (contraction of the bulbocavernosus muscle in response to glans penis or clitoris compression or tugging on the urinary catheter) signals the end of spinal shock. At KIMS, the ASIA examination is formalised after the bulbocavernosus reflex returns, as the definitive prognostic assessment.

Treatment

Emergency Management at KIMS

The first 24 hours determine the trajectory. The KIMS protocol runs from immobilisation and resuscitation through emergency imaging, surgical decompression, and ICU stabilisation in a tightly coordinated sequence.

Immobilisation and ATLS-based resuscitation

Rigid cervical collar; log-roll technique for moving and examining the patient; spinal board for transport. Airway, breathing, circulation — cervical SCI at C3–C4 or above requires emergency intubation. Neurogenic shock (SCI above T6): vasopressors (noradrenaline) to avoid hypotension and support spinal cord perfusion, with a suggested MAP target in the 75–80 to 90–95 mmHg range. Blood pressure maintenance is critical for spinal cord perfusion, though the specific target rests on low-quality evidence. IV methylprednisolone (NASCIS protocol): the evidence for methylprednisolone in acute SCI is weak and controversial; at KIMS, it is not routinely administered, consistent with current international guidelines.

Emergency CT and MRI spine

CT spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) on arrival: identifies fractures, dislocations, and canal compromise. Performed with collar in situ. Reconstructed in sagittal and coronal planes. MRI spine: the essential investigation for cord injury characterisation. Shows cord compression, cord contusion (T2 signal change), disc extrusion, epidural haematoma. MRI within 2–4 hours of arrival at KIMS. The MRI determines whether surgical decompression is indicated and guides the surgical approach.

Surgical decompression and stabilisation within 24 hours

At KIMS, the surgical approach depends on the injury anatomy: Anterior approach (ACDF, anterior corpectomy and fusion): for cervical injuries with anterior cord compression from disc or vertebral body. Posterior approach (laminectomy and instrumented fusion): for posterior element fractures, posterior compression, or multilevel cervical SCI. Combined anterior-posterior: for unstable fracture-dislocations requiring 360-degree stabilisation. Thoracolumbar fractures: posterior pedicle screw instrumentation and fusion is the standard approach for unstable thoracolumbar injuries. The KIMS Neuroscience team performs spinal procedures including emergency decompression and stabilisation at all spinal levels.

ICU and medical management

Blood pressure maintenance: MAP augmentation to avoid hypotension and maintain spinal cord perfusion, with a suggested target of 75–80 to 90–95 mmHg for 3–7 days. The evidence is of low quality and no adequately powered RCT has validated a specific target; the 85–90 mmHg for 7 days figure from earlier AOSpine/NACTN guidance is a reference point rather than a mandatory protocol, and both target and duration are individualised to the injury level, neurological response, and patient comorbidities. DVT prophylaxis: sequential compression devices; LMWH from 24–72 hours post-surgery. Pressure area care from day 1 (turning every 2 hours). Bladder management: urinary catheterisation initially; transition to clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC) as part of SCI management. Bowel programme. Nutrition: early enteral nutrition within 24–48 hours. Prevention of autonomic dysreflexia.

Long-Term Care

SCI Rehabilitation at KIMS

Rehabilitation begins on day 1 — before the patient leaves the ICU. The goals: maximise preserved function, prevent complications, and enable the highest possible level of independence.

Physiotherapy

Passive range of movement from day 1 to prevent contractures. Active-assisted and active exercises for partially preserved muscle groups. Transfer training (bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to car). Gait rehabilitation for incomplete injuries using walking frames, ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), and graduated weight-bearing. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES): electrical stimulation of paralysed muscles to produce useful movement and maintain muscle bulk.

Occupational therapy

Adapting activities of daily living (dressing, feeding, wheelchair operation) to the patient's level of function. Environmental modifications for home adaptation. Splinting for hand function in cervical SCI.

Bladder management

Clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC) programme: the family and patient are taught to perform CIC 4–6 times daily. CIC prevents urinary tract infections far more effectively than indwelling catheters. Urodynamic assessment at 6–12 weeks to characterise the neurogenic bladder and guide long-term management. Anticholinergics for bladder overactivity.

Psychological support

Adjustment to SCI is one of the most profound psychological challenges in medicine. Depression affects approximately 30% of SCI survivors in the first year. At KIMS, psychological support is integrated into the rehabilitation programme from the start — not added as an afterthought. Peer support from people who have lived experience of SCI is specifically valuable and is facilitated at KIMS.

Autonomic dysreflexia training

Every patient with SCI above T6 and their family are trained to recognise and respond to autonomic dysreflexia (sudden severe headache + flushing above level + hypertension from a stimulus below the level — usually full bladder). Immediate management: sit the patient upright; loosen clothing; identify and remove the triggering stimulus; if BP remains dangerously elevated, sublingual nifedipine or glyceryl trinitrate. Emergency: 040-46324365.

Related Conditions

Spinal cord injury belongs to the family of traumatic neurological conditions managed at KIMS:

Traumatic Brain Injury Concussion & Mild TBI Diffuse Axonal Injury Traumatic Encephalopathy

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The prognosis for any SCI depends on whether the injury is complete or incomplete. The most important finding in the first examination: sacral sparing — any sensation at the perineum (saddle area) or any ability to voluntarily squeeze the anal sphincter means the injury is incomplete and neurological recovery is possible. An incomplete cervical SCI (ASIA B, C, or D) that receives emergency surgical decompression within 24 hours has a meaningful chance of significant motor recovery — many patients regain the ability to walk, with varying degrees of assistance. A complete injury (ASIA A, no sacral sparing) has a very low probability of meaningful motor recovery. At KIMS, the ASIA examination is performed immediately after resuscitation and spinal imaging to determine the degree of completeness, which guides both surgical urgency and family counselling. Please call 040-46324365 immediately.

Not all spinal fractures require surgery — the decision depends on stability (whether the fracture is likely to displace further with normal movement) and neurological involvement (whether the spinal cord or nerve roots are compressed). Stable fractures without neurological deficit can often be managed with a thoracolumbar brace (TLSO) and careful mobilisation under physiotherapy guidance. Unstable fractures (where the fracture pattern suggests the spine cannot bear normal loads without risking further displacement and cord damage) require surgical stabilisation — even without neurological deficit — to prevent secondary cord injury. At KIMS, the stability is assessed using CT three-column classification (Denis classification) and MRI for ligamentous injury, which together determine the surgical threshold. Please call 040-44885000 for a specialist assessment.

This is autonomic dysreflexia — a medical emergency specific to SCI above T6. The high blood pressure (often 200/120 mmHg or higher) is caused by a reflex hypertensive surge from a stimulus below the injury level that the damaged spinal cord cannot regulate. The most common triggers are: a full bladder (the most common — check the catheter is not kinked; if on CIC, perform CIC immediately); constipation or faecal impaction; pressure sore or tight clothing. Act immediately: sit your husband upright (this alone reduces blood pressure by lowering the head relative to the heart); loosen any tight clothing, straps, or footwear; check the urinary catheter and empty the bladder; if faecal impaction is suspected, apply anaesthetic gel (lidocaine gel) to the rectum before dis-impaction. If BP remains critically elevated or if symptoms are severe, call 040-46324365 immediately. Sublingual nifedipine 5–10mg or glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray is the emergency pharmacological treatment. Do not ignore this and do not lie him flat.

Yes — and this is not just hope. Thoracic SCI at T10 leaves full arm and hand function, good trunk stability (T10 is mid-thoracic, sparing much of the trunk musculature), and no respiratory compromise. Many people with T10 paraplegia achieve full independence in a wheelchair: independent transfers (bed to wheelchair to car); independent driving with hand controls; independent bladder management with self-catheterisation; and full employment in virtually all knowledge-work and many physical occupations. The KIMS rehabilitation programme builds toward these functional goals from the first day of inpatient rehabilitation. Home modification, vehicle adaptation, and workplace accessibility assessment are part of the KIMS occupational therapy programme. Please call 040-44885000 to discuss your daughter's rehabilitation programme.

Cervical spine decompression and fusion surgery for SCI is a significant operation, but the risk of not operating when there is cord compression from an unstable fracture-dislocation is far greater than the surgical risk. At KIMS, the specific risks of cervical spine surgery are: bleeding (small risk at cervical level; blood transfusion rarely needed); infection (approximately 1–2%); worsening of neurological function (very rare with meticulous surgical technique — approximately 0.5–1%); adjacent segment disease (the spinal segments above and below a fusion can develop degeneration over years, sometimes requiring further surgery); dysphagia (temporary swallowing difficulty is common after anterior cervical surgery, usually resolving within weeks); and hardware complications (rare with modern titanium instrumentation). The benefit — cord decompression, prevention of further injury, and the opportunity for neurological recovery — substantially outweighs these risks in any patient with an unstable injury compressing the cord. The KIMS team will discuss your father's specific risks and expected outcome before surgery. Call 040-46324365.

A spinal cord injury is a life-altering event that happens in a second. What happens in the next 24 hours determines the outcome.

At KIMS Neuroscience, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, emergency CT and MRI spine, spinal decompression and stabilisation within 24 hours by the KIMS Neuroscience team, neurocritical ICU care, and integrated SCI rehabilitation begin from the day of injury. Emergency: 040-46324365. Appointments: 040-44885000.

040-44885000

International enquiries: info@kimsneurosciences.com