CPD

• People with spinal cord injuries are very complex patients to treat, as they can present with a range of clinical and psychological issues.
• Sensory deficits sometimes add difficulty to making a diagnosis. Remember to ‘think outside the square’ and check anything suspicious or out of character. A seemingly small problem, such as an ingrown toenail, can lead to life-threatening autonomic dysreflexia. So always examine the patient from head to toe.
• Be familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of serious, potentially life-threatening complications such as autonomic dysreflexia, lower respiratory-tract infections, venous thromboembolism and high-grade pressure injuries.

Keeping LDL-C levels lower throughout life can help substantially reduce CVD risk.¹ GPs play an essential role in identifying patients at risk of CVD and managing their treatment.² This includes prescribing lipid-lowering medicines for people at high risk of CVD.³ Although for most patients, elevated lipids can be assessed and managed effectively by GPs, there are some groups of patients who may benefit from referral to a specialist.⁴ These include patients whose total cholesterol is more than 7.5mmol/L, patients who fail to show an effective response to second-line treatment and those with familial hypercholesterolaemia.⁴