Monitoring
Patients require daily assessments of calf and thigh circumference to allow early detection of deep vein thrombosis and checking of skin and pressure areas for pressure ulcers. The consistency of stools and the frequency of bowel action and interventions should be monitored regularly to allow appropriate adjustments of the bowel management plan. Respiratory and neurologic function should be assessed regularly.[73]
For patients taking opioids, benefits and risks should be evaluated within 1 to 4 weeks of initiation or dosage escalation, and regularly thereafter. Clinicians should also periodically evaluate risks for opioid-related harms and discuss these with the patient.[93]
Patients should also be monitored for psychological aspects of the chronic disease, such as depression.[152] A meta-analysis has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy may have a significant positive impact on short-term psychological outcomes following spinal cord injury, but further research is needed regarding its long-term benefits.[153]
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