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Between 8,000 and 10,000 people experience a spinal cord injury (SCI) each year, causing about 250,000 people today to be living with the condition. MRIs have revolutionized SCI diagnosis and treatment because they allow PM&R physicians to visualize the damage to the spinal cord and can help them diagnose new symptoms that arise.
PM&R physicians have been pioneers in the treatment and management of spinal cord injuries. Typically, the physiatrist is brought in within 24–48 hours after the injury to coordinate any non-surgical treatment and helps prevent complications that can arise from the injury by guiding the treatment team.
Once a spinal cord injured person becomes medically stable in our CARF-accredited Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) service at Jackson Memorial Hospital, a 1500 bed Level I trauma center, the patient is most often then transferred to and cared for in the Lynn Rehabilitation Center (LRC), a state-of-the-art rehab building. There, SCI in-patient rehabilitation is provided by a comprehensive multidisciplinary team led by the physiatrist, and comprising team members including physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, rehabilitation nurses, speech pathologists, recreational therapists, rehabilitation nurses, social workers, and others in. At the same time as acute care rehabilitation is provided led by the physiatrists from the NIDDR Model Systems approved Department of PM&R in the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, research is being performed on-site by the department research faculty alongside the researchers of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. Our close association with the Miami Project as well as our own clinical research program offers unique opportunities for improving health and wellness as well as for participating in research studies.
After completion of inpatient rehabilitation, patients with SCI often continue with out-patient therapy and receive life-long outpatient medical care in our SCI clinics. Issues addressed by our physiatrists include management of bladder, bowel, and sexual function, mobility, skin care, equipment prescription, fertility, pain, equipment procurement, and treatment of potential medical complications such as urinary tract infections. Persons with SCI sometimes develop late complications years after the SCI that require diagnosis and treatment by our physicians. Patients thus benefit from creating life-long relationships with the specialists in our department.
Kevin L. Dalal, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Board Certified and Fellowship Trained in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
Andrew L. Sherman, M.D.
Professor and Vice Chair of Education
Jose R. Vives-Alvarado, M.D.
Assistant Professor