Sexual and Psychological Aspects of Rehabilitation after Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract The estimated annual incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI), excluding those who die at the scene of an accident, is approximately 40 cases per million population in the United States, or approximately 12,000 new cases each year. Although short-term mortality has drastically declined, average life expectancy still does not equal that of those without SCI. Intuitively, as the level of neurological lesion and overall patient impairment increases, life expectancy declines. Following the initial insult, it is of utmost importance for the rehabilitative team to integrate the patient back into society. As most patients with SCI are young males with long life expectancies, quality of life becomes an important factor to consider in the management of this group. Sexual and psychological well-being are components that must not be overlooked and are issues that should be addressed in every patient. This chapter describes the sexual and psychological dysfunctions that occur, as well as the clinical management of patients who have undergone spinal cord injury and are rehabilitating.