The bouquet of spinal neurological emergencies: when one has to refer

• To appreciate the importance of clearly defining the problem to differentiate myelopathic versus non-myelopathic diseases
• To appreciate that ‘thinking pathophysiologically’ is essential in order to rank your differential list and to define/refine your problem
• To develop a diagnostic approach to the patient with spinal disease

Rehabilitation and nursing considerations

• To understand when physiotherapy is warranted and when not
• To understand what to consider when to nurse for the recumbent patient
• To comprehend how to avoid complications in the non-ambulatory patient