Also called, atelectasis or aspiration. Patients with spinal
cord injuries above the T4 level of injury are at risk to
develop restriction in respiratory function, termed restrictive
lung disease. This occurs five to 10 years following spinal cord
injury and can be progressive in nature. The quadriplegic
individual as part of a health care maintenance routine should
have pulmonary function studies at yearly or every-other-year
intervals between five and 10 years post injury. As the medical
treatment of spinal cord-injured individuals continues to
improve, respiratory complications of SCI are becoming more
prominent. Adequate health maintenance and protection from this
complication are appropriate and necessary as part of the
long-term care of the spinal cord-injured individual.
