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Article of the Week

Nerve and Tendon Transfer Surgery in SCI

Did you know that surgical options may help restore arm and hand function for some patients with cervical spinal cord injuries? Traditional tendon transfers can provide strong, reliable movement but often require postoperative immobilization, whereas newer nerve transfers may allow earlier movement and more refined motor control, though they require time for nerve regeneration and recovery.

Because the benefits, limitations, and recovery process vary, the decision to pursue surgery is highly individualized. For appropriately selected patients, improvements in functions such as elbow extension and hand grasp - even seemingly small gains - can make a meaningful difference in independence with activities of daily living and overall quality of life. For trauma nurses, awareness of these underused treatment options can support patient education, set realistic recovery expectations, and facilitate referrals for specialized evaluation as patients transition to rehabilitation.

Click the link to view the article or watch a short AI-generated article summary (4 min 29 sec).

Fox IK, Miller AK, Curtin CM. Nerve and tendon transfer surgery in cervical spinal cord injury: Individualized choices to optimize function. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2018;24(3):275-287.

Trauma Happenings

E-Bike Injuries are Picking up Speed

A UC San Diego study found that California e-bike collisions skyrocketed from just two reported cases in 2018 to 1,506 in 2024, and riders sustained more moderate-to-severe injuries than traditional bicyclists.

Children 14 and younger were disproportionately represented among injured e-bike riders, and researchers also noted concerning trends in helmet use and speed. The takeaway is clear: as e-bike popularity accelerates, injury-prevention efforts—including helmet use, rider education, safer infrastructure, and age-appropriate policies—need to keep pace.

Read more about it in this article from UC San Diego Today. Click the link below.

But HOW Can We Pay for Trauma Nursing Education?

When healthcare budgets tighten, nursing education is often among the first areas targeted. Trauma leaders can safeguard funding by positioning education as essential to ongoing trauma center verification, nurse retention, and high-quality patient care.

To help you make your case for educational support, see the new Strategies for Funding Trauma Nursing Education document on the TCAR Education Programs’ website at the link below.

Funding sources are available, but securing those dollars requires making a clear business case, building strategic partnerships, and good old persistence. By linking trauma nursing education to verification, workforce stability, and patient care, leaders can build a strong case for sustainable support.

Rural trauma care meets the Jetsons!

Could the future of EMS involve paramedic pilots? In rural North Carolina, a flight-trained medic has been flying a single-person electric aircraft directly to 911 scenes, arriving about 20 minutes ahead of ground ambulances carrying advanced life-support equipment—a promising way to put critical care on the fast track when geography gets in the way. 

Click the link to read more from Axios.com.

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