Rehabilitation Experts Offer Care Guidance for Unique Challenges of Women Living with Spinal Cord Injuries

JFK Johnson Rehabilitation physicians lead and contribute to special issue of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics focusing on rehabilitation issues affecting women

Rehabilitation guidance for people with spinal cord injuries is largely gender neutral, even though women, with gender-specific care needs, account for about 20 percent of those living with spinal cord injuries.

The special considerations necessary to understand and improve treatment of women with spinal cord injuries are outlined in an article by Jennifer Chui, M.D., and Phillip Gordon, M.D., both specialists in spinal cord injury at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.

The article is part of a special issue of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics, published by Elsevier, that explores issues surrounding women and rehabilitation medicine. Sara Cuccurullo, M.D., Medical Director of JFK Johnson, is Editor-in-Chief of the project along with Co-Editors Kristen Harris, M.D., and Hayk Petrosyan, Ph.D.

When it comes to spinal cord injuries, issues distinct for women revolve around sexuality, bladder management, bone loss and depression as well as an increased susceptibility to pressure injuries. About 60 percent of women with spinal cord injury experience amenorrhea for an average of five to six months after the injury. After this interval, it is possible for women to successfully conceive and carry a child to delivery.

“Unfortunately, sexuality and reproductive health issues for women with spinal cord injuries are often overlooked,” said Dr. Chui. “The goal of this article is to help health care providers recognize and address the specific care points for women.”

The article, Rehabilitation Considerations for Women with Spinal Cord Injury, explores a range of issues and notes there is no evidence to suggest a higher chance of adverse pregnancy outcomes for women with spinal cord injuries. However, there are problems unique to pregnant women with these injuries.

The publication includes 14 female-focused rehabilitation medicine topics, including women with traumatic brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, long COVID and stroke. Most of the more than 40 authors who contributed to the special issue are JFK Johnson physicians or researchers, all experts in their fields.

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