What is it about?
Injury to the back or neck as well as the spinal cord therein is one of the worst things that can occur to anyone. It leads to an inability to use limbs and lost ability to perceive when touched or voiding bladder and bowel. However, trauma to the spinal cord is largely possible if causes are known. Common causes of this injury to persons living along the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro is falling from trees where they are searching for firewood, cattle feed and fruit for consumption and selling. Awareness of dangers associated with climbing trees in these settings might reduce the magnitude of this problem.
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Why is it important?
This is an important study as it shows what commonly causes injury to the backs and necks of persons living in one part of rural Africa, leading to permanent paralysis of their limbs. This knowledge can assist in prevention programs as knowledge of cause is the cornerstone to designing of prevention programs.
Perspectives
I view spinal cord injury as a personal, family and community problem. Its consequences are too massive, longlasting, and demanding in terms of rehabilitation services and lost working years. I am of opinion that strategies to reduce the occurrence of these incidents is feasible and far cheaper than managing and rehabilitating the resulting cases.
HALELUYA MOSHI
Umea Universitet
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Traumatic spinal cord injury in the north-east Tanzania – describing incidence, etiology and clinical outcomes retrospectively, Global Health Action, January 2017, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2017.1355604.
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