When should I refer a patient with a spinal cord injury to a specialist for further evaluation and management?

Refer a patient with a spinal cord injury to a specialist for further evaluation and management:

• Within 24 hours of diagnosis, using the national spinal injuries database ¹.
• For ongoing advice and support throughout inpatient stay and at discharge, involving the regional specialist spinal cord injury centre outreach team ¹.
• When initial assessment indicates neurological abnormality attributable to spinal cord injury, perform MRI after CT, regardless of CT findings ².
• If imaging shows a new spinal column fracture, image the rest of the spinal column ².
• In cases of suspected thoracic or lumbosacral spine injury with abnormal neurological signs or symptoms, perform CT imaging ².