# Best Practices for Management of Fractures in Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders

> **NIH VA I01** · CHARLIE NORWOOD VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Osteoporotic-related fractures are a serious problem for patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). However, best
management for acute care of these fractures including whether surgical vs. nonsurgical treatment should be
done and the factors that influence this decision is not known. This point is well appreciate by providers, who
have identified to SCI QUERI that research to establish best practices for treatment of fractures in patients with
a SCI should be a priority area. Surgical treatment for lower extremity fractures is done more frequently than
previously reported, with approximately 10-37% of these fractures now managed surgically. However, the
factors that influence the choice of surgical vs. nonsurgical fracture treatments and outcomes following these
therapies have not been described. In this proposal we will utilize administrative databases, semi-structured
questionnaires and case scenarios, and convene an outstanding advisory panel to review this information and
existing literature to start the process of understanding best management for osteoporotic fractures in SCI.
We will include both patients and providers (orthopedic surgeons and PM&R physicians) in the surveys. This
proposal is of direct, immediate potential clinical benefit to the expanding population of patients with SCI. It will
provide invaluable information for providers to better be able to care for these patients when they sustain an
osteoporotic fracture.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10179490
- **Project number:** 5I01HX002090-04
- **Recipient organization:** CHARLIE NORWOOD VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** LAURA D CARBONE
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-01 → 2020-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10179490

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10179490, Best Practices for Management of Fractures in Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders (5I01HX002090-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10179490. Licensed CC0.

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