International Spinal Cord Society | ISCoS
The International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS, formerly IMSoP) promotes the highest standard of care in the practice of spinal cord injury for men, women and children throughout the world. Through its medical and multi disciplinary team of Professionals ISCoS endeavours to foster education, research and clinical excellence.
ISCoS has a membership of Clinicians and Scientists from 87 countries. They regularly update their knowledge at the Annual Scientific Meeting held in a different country each year. ISCoS is continuously expanding both in membership and new horizons.
SPINAL CORD and SPINAL CORD SERIES & CASES are the official Journals of the International Spinal Cord Society and is the forum that attracts publications from clinicians and basic scientists who work in the field of Spinal Injuries.
ISCoS 2023 Annual meeting
Abstracts Submission is now closed - Early Bird registration is now open
ISCoS Statement on Sudan – April 20, 2023
On the morning of April 15th, 2023 fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in the capital Khartoum and other main cities. Civilians, aid workers and health workers are not protected. The violence has continued, with reports of more than 3000 wounded and at least 296 deaths, including spinal cord injuries from gunshot. The health and humanitarian crisis is escalating, with hospitals overwhelmed, supplies diminishing, and health and aid workers and civilians at ongoing risk.
ISCoS joins the international humanitarian community in pleading for a cease to the violence, and adherence to safe and unrestricted access to health services for all in need as an obligation under International Humanitarian Law. The protection of wounded and sick, health workers and facilities is paramount.
Updated reports can be followed on ReliefWeb, a service of the United Nationals Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) https://reliefweb.int.
Click here To read further, please refer to the Statement from the Sudan Doctors Abroad
Earthquake 6 February
On behalf of all our ISCoS community, we express our sadness and grave concerns following the devastation in Northern Syria and Southern Turkey from the February 6th earthquakes. Our support and thoughts are extended to all our colleagues, their families and communities as the response and recovery efforts unfold.
Emergencies create enormous surge in immediate trauma care and rehabilitation needs, which includes managing those with new spinal injuries and citizens already living with spinal cord conditions. Many of those affected are experiencing this disaster on top of war. The immediate and ongoing integration of essential SCI and rehabilitation services within the health services will be paramount to optimizing outcomes.
ISCoS support the World Rehabilitation Alliance who call on all agencies involved to integrate the immediate and ongoing rehabilitation needs of survivors and those with pre-existing disabilities from the outset - WRA statement.
It is thus essential that aid and response is coordinated with the respective national authorities and the international leads for the response. ISCoS is collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) in supporting the coordination of efforts and are in communication with our members directly affected. We remain prepared to contribute through these coordinated pathways with existing engagement of our Executive, Education and External Relations/Disasters Committees.
We encourage our members around the world to please consider this emergency response guidance:
- Only travel to volunteer in the disaster zone if as part of an established NGO or Emergency Medical Team (EMT)
- Consider cash donations to established organizations already in the regions, who are part of the coordinated efforts; ICRC and HI are scaling up their rehabilitation responses in Syria, and IFRC and MSF are escalating their medical responses in the region.
- Review the guidance resources for disaster response to the Do’s and Don’ts and reports on ISCoS previous roles in similar events Poster A and Poster B
Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis:
With the global community, we share in the sorrow and have deep concern for the people affected by the events in Ukraine. The horrific war has created a humanitarian crisis that requires cooperative international efforts now, and for the foreseeable future. ISCoS recognises that in emergencies and conflicts, persons with disability are particularly vulnerable, and such disasters will also inflict new trauma, including spinal cord injuries. Health workers and systems are directly impacted by overwhelming needs in the face of damaged or destroyed infrastructure, depleted resources and personal safety risks.
ISCoS is committed to working collaboratively with partners and lead organizations to assist and support the humanitarian response. We seek to ensure that the current and future rehabilitation needs of people are coordinated and based on needs identified by our professional colleagues and the communities in which they are working. ISCoS is a signatory to a Joint Statement on Coordinating Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology as Part of a Humanitarian Response in Ukraine.
Through the ISCoS External Relations Committee, and its Disaster Sub-Committee, ISCoS communicates with the World Health Organisation and other allied Non-State Actors, where we strive to call attention to the unique needs of persons with spinal cord injuries and those providing care for such trauma. We will aim to keep our members updated as to initiatives, developments, and needs, and provide links to resources and programs as available. As an example, our colleagues of the European Spinal Cord Injury Federation with support of the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation and the German Spinal Injuries Association are operating a Safe House near the border in Poland as shelter and meeting point for war refuges with disability ESCIF Safe house - European Spinal Cord Injury FederationEuropean Spinal Cord Injury Federation
Working collaboratively with WHO, Ministry of Health and International Partner Organisations we anticipate future roles including support for training, navigation for SCI resources and long-term rebuilding of the devastated health systems.
Covid-19 and SCI: Staying healthy with the help of Telecommunication and Telehealth
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