Spinal Injuries: NSIC history

Introduction

The National Spinal Injuries Unit originally started in February 1944 under the leadership of Professor Sir Ludwig Guttman. In celebration of the 80^th anniversary, this reading list highlights articles and resources that outline the origins and development of the unit over the years both in terms of its treatment and rehabilitation of spinal patients as well as the birthplace of the Paralympic Games,

This reading list has been compiled by the Library and Knowledge Services team at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. For any queries or help accessing any of these resources, please email bht.library@nhs.net

Articles

1. A history of Stoke Mandeville Hospital and the National Spinal Injuries Centre
Silver, John R.2019 The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 49(4), pp. 328-335
Stoke Mandeville Hospital and the National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC) are renowned worldwide for the successful treatment of spinal injuries and as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. The emergence of the spinal centre was a direct result of the setting up of the Emergency Medical Services in the Second World War to treat injured soldiers. This paper documents the history of the hospital as a whole and the influence of the NSIC in particular on the overall facilities leading up to and after the building of the modern NSIC in 1983.
ARTICLE LINK: A history of Stoke Mandeville Hospital and the National Spinal Injuries Centre (rcpe.ac.uk)

2. Ludwig Guttmann's Memorandum: a review on the surgical aspects of spinal cord injuries written in 1944 for the Nerve Injury Committee of the Medical Research Council: with notes and commentary
Silver, John R.2017 Spinal Cord Series and Cases 3, pp. 17047
ARTICLE LINK: https://libkey.io/10.1038/scsandc.2017.47

3. The Sir Ludwig Guttmann lecture 2012: the contribution of Stoke Mandeville Hospital to spinal cord injuries
Frankel, H. L.11th ,2012 Spinal Cord 50(11), pp. 790-796
This Ludwig Guttmann Lecture was presented at the 2012 meeting of the International Spinal Cord Society in London. It describes the contribution of Stoke Mandeville Hospital to the field of spinal cord injuries. Dr Ludwig Guttmann started the Spinal Unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in 1944 and introduced a novel, comprehensive method of care, which included early admission, prevention and treatment of spinal cord injury related complications, active rehabilitation and social reintegration. Soon a dedicated specialist team was assembled and training of visitors was encouraged, some of whom went on to start their own spinal units. Research went hand in hand with clinical work, and over the years more than 500 scientific contributions from Stoke Mandeville have been published in peer reviewed journals and books. Guttmann introduced sport as a means of physical therapy, which soon lead to organised Stoke Mandeville Games, first national in 1948, then international in 1952 and finally the Paralympic Games in 1960. Stoke Mandeville is regarded as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, and Guttmann was knighted in 1966. Stoke Mandeville is also the birthplace of the International Medical Society of Paraplegia, later International Spinal Cord Society, which was formed during the International Stoke Mandeville Games in 1961, and of the Society's medical journal Paraplegia, later Spinal Cord, first published in 1963. Guttmann's followers have continued his philosophy and, with some new developments and advances, the present day National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary acute care, rehabilitation and life-long follow-up for patient with spinal cord injuries of all ages.
ARTICLE LINK: https://libkey.io/10.1038/sc.2012.109

4. The specialty of spinal injuries in the UK
Silver, J. R.03rd ,2009
The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 39(1), pp. 79-87

At the outset of the Second World War, spinal units were established in the UK, but they were little more than hospitals where patients with spinal injuries were received. The treatment was deplorable, with patients typically suffering from pressure sores and renal sepsis. In the south of England, a spinal unit was not established until the appointment in 1944 of Ludwig Guttmann, who was trained in rehabilitation, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and research. Guttmann devoted himself single-handedly to the care of his patients, turning and catheterising them himself. Within six months, he demonstrated that he could cure their sores and discharge them to a meaningful life. Recognition followed immediately, and doctors came from other units to learn Guttmann's methods and set up rehabilitation centres for spinal patients in the UK.
ARTICLE LINK: silver.pdf (rcpe.ac.uk)

5. I. Organisation of spinal units. History of the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury
Guttmann, L.11th ,1967
Paraplegia 5(3), pp. 115-126
ARTICLE LINK: https://libkey.io/10.1038/sc.1967.14

6. History of the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital Aylesbury
Guttmann, L1967 Nature
ARTICLE LINK: History of the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury | Spinal Cord (nature.com)

Related books

As part of BHT Library and Knowledge Services Historical Collection, these titles are available for reference use only and are not available for loan.

Related websites

Ludwig Guttmann and the birth of the Paralympics
The Wellcome Collection
https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/YS3ulBEAACQA782O

National Paralympic Heritage Trust
https://www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/Default.aspx