JSCM: Embarking on a New Decade
Last year, the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine (JSCM) wrapped up its 40th year of continuous publication with two special issues. Issue 5 reflected Rocky Mountain High Expectations for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), the annual conference of the Academy of SCI Professionals (ASCIP), held in September 2017 in Denver. Issue 6 was dedicated to the 7th National Canadian SCI Conference of held in Niagara Falls in November. That final issue of 2017 honored the contributions of Canadian professionals to military medicine that improved care for individuals with SCI. Each of these issues contains articles, abstracts and commentaries, all of which can be accessed online at www.tandfonline.com/yscm
JSCM begins the new year with a lineup of research articles from authors in Sweden, Spain, Iran, Turkey, and China, as well as Canada and the U.S. Topics range from basic research in neuroscience to addressing the challenges of complications associated with living with chronic SCI.
In a cross-sectional study of Canadian adults with chronic traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), Chopra et al. illustrate the high prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the low rate of screening and guideline adherence, both absolute and relative to the general population. Encouragingly, Sonenblum et al., using a weight-shift monitor, found that those wheelchair users who performed more weight shifts experienced fewer pressure ulcers than those who performed fewer weight shifts; they measured both deliberate and incidental buttock off-loading, e.g. leaning on an elbow or reaching sideways. Two other articles in this issue explore the potential for better outcomes for these common complications of chronic SCI – involving the bladder, cardiovascular system, and skin.
The mixed results reported by Evardone et al. and Sabour et al.’s give pause regarding the impact of patient education on techniques bladder management, the importance of skin integrity, and awareness of cardiovascular risk factors. Clearly, further research on the development and implementation of effective interventions is needed, as well as strategies to ensure compliance. Liu et al.’s contribution illustrates the challenges of establishing measures for diagnosing obesity after SCI. The case report by Algahtani et al. draws attention to the association between methanol intoxication and spinal cord dysfunction. In a Swiss population with SCI, Hertig-Godeschalk et al. highlight the unmet needs for home adaptations and their impact on community reintegration and quality of life. Spasmolytic medications, widely used in the SCI population, are the focus of ongoing investigations. Del Fabro et al. report on a benefit of intrathecal baclofen on autonomic dysreflexia, while Theriault et al. report that oral spasmolytic drugs may reduce functional recovery during initial rehabilitation after traumatic SCI.
Also in this issue, we acknowledge those honored by ASCIP in 2017, including the seasoned professionals who gave lectures named for pioneers in SCI care and research, the trainees recognized for substantial achievements early in their careers, and the awardees of ASCIP’s sections that represent the interdisciplinary nature of SCI professionals– the American Paraplegia Society, the Therapy Leadership Council, the American Association of SCI Nurses, and the American Association of SCI Psychologists, Social Workers and Counselors.
Take a moment to review the list of awardees representing excellence in SCI care and research. Does a colleague come to mind? It’s not too soon to think about nominees to be acknowledged at ASCIP’s 2018 Educational Conference in New Orleans.