如何為脊髓損傷患者選擇合適的輪椅? How to Choose a Suitable Wheelchair for SCI?

脊髓損傷 (SCI) 是臨床醫學中對患者身體功能及生活自理能力最具影響性的傷患。大多數病例是由道路交通事故或工業創傷等高能量創傷引起的。由於人口老化，我們亦看到更多的老年人仕在相對輕微的創傷後遭受不完全頸椎脊髓損傷。這些事故可能導致後骨折或脫位引起脊髓神經擠壓。脊髓損傷也可以由非創傷性疾病引起，例如感染、缺血、脊髓炎以及脊柱的原發性和繼發性惡性腫瘤。
脊髓損傷影響神經損傷水平以下的所有身體系統功能，並可能導致永久性損傷，包括肌肉麻痺、感覺喪失、慢性神經性疼痛、膀胱和腸道功能障礙、性功能障礙、持續痙攣、骨質疏鬆症，並可能引起可以危及生命的呼吸、心血管和自主神經功能併發症。
香港大學矯形及創傷外科學系與路向四肢傷殘人士協會和耀能協會合作建立了這個脊髓損傷教育和資源網頁，以達至以下目的：
1. 促進脊髓損傷的理解和認識。
2.提供有關脊髓損傷的信息，幫助患者及照顧者預防併發症。
*此項目獲大學教育資助委員會授予的香港大學知識交流基金支持。*
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating physical ailments seen in clinical practice. The majority of cases results from high energy injuries such as road traffic accidents or industrial trauma. Due to an ageing population, we are also seeing more geriatric people suffering from incomplete cervical spinal cord injury after relatively minor trauma. These accidents can result in fractures or dislocations of the vertebral column, and subsequent compression and injury to the spinal cord. SCI can also be caused by non-traumatic conditions such as infection, ischaemia, myelitis, and both primary and secondary malignancies affecting the spinal column.
SCI affects all systems of the body below the level of neurological injury, and can result in permanent impairments including motor paralysis, sensory loss, chronic neuropathic pain, bladder and bowel dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, persistent spasticity, progressive osteoporosis, and potentially life-threatening respiratory insufficiency, cardiovascular and autonomic dysfunction.
Our Department has partnered with Direction Association for the Handicapped and SAHK to set up this SCI Education and Resource Webpage with the following aims:
1. promote understanding and awareness of SCI.
2. provide useful information for individuals with SCI and their caregivers to prevent complications, and maintain good health.
*This project is supported by the HKU Knowledge Exchange Fund granted by the University Grants Committee.*
www.ortho.hku....