Przegla̧d lekarski
-
Less than twenty years ago, a high spinal cord injury accompanied by paralysis of the diaphragm and the resulting apnea and tetraplegia led to certain death within a short time after the trauma, mostly due to respiratory complications associated with ventilatory therapy in hospitals. The objective of this paper is to present the case of a paediatric brain stem trauma with spinal cord injury, consisting of spinal cord rupture in the upper cervical segment. Thanks to appropriate management at all treatment stages (prompt, fully professional assistance in the ambulance, followed by appropriate management at ICU), the child survived. ⋯ As the patient grew, in consequence of uncontrolled sudden increases of muscle tone of the trunk spine. Increased muscle tone was increasingly resistant to pharmacotherapy and negatively affected the effectiveness of home rehabilitation. In consequence, a decision was made to implant an intraspinal baclofen pump.