Spinal Program In Czech Republic
In the 1950’s, Professor Vladimir Benes, a Czech neurosurgeon dreamed of creating specialised centres for the treatment and rehabilitation of SCI patients. This dream 
became reality much later on in the 1990’s, with the opening of the first spinal cord unit in Brno. In 2002, after a series of heavily debated discussions between the Spine Surgery Society, Ministry of Health, and non-profit organizations, a comprehensive practice guideline was implemented to set up a network of departments responsible for the complex care of these patients at different stages of their injury. These departments include the spinal surgery departments, spinal cord units, and spinal rehabilitation units within the 
rehabilitation centres. About 250 patients with acute spinal cord lesions are hospitalized and treated in these centres on a yearly basis.
