• Requires Intensive hospital care, long-term rehabilitation & life-long care.
  • Initial care - strict immobilization of the spine
  • Complete neurologic assessment
  • Steroid therapy must be initiated within a few hours of injury
  • Injuries above C3- are apneic, need intubation
  • between C3 and C5 – may need intubation later
  • Complete transection- poor prognosis
  • Preservation of remaining function