Within the framework of the spinal cord injury program, the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal (IRGLM) provides specialized and sub-specialized rehabilitation services to patients suffering from spinal cord injuries.

The program has been allocated 25 permanent beds as well as 5 temporary beds. It also provides out-patient services.


➢ Clientele

Within this program, the IRGLM provides services to the following clients:

• traumatic spinal cord injury for Western Quebec, within the framework of the CEBMOQ (Centre d’expertise pour les personnes blessées médullaires de l’Ouest du Québec),
• non-traumatic lesion for the Island of Montreal,
• home ventilation for traumatic quadriplegics (provincial mandate).

➢ Objectives

The Spinal Cord Injury program was designed so that a client with a spinal cord injury may develop a good knowledge of his own resources and overall functioning so that he may become as independent as possible. Including ths ability to express his needs.

Rehabilitation objectives are:

• the development of skills that will allow a return to previous life habits and social roles;
• the knowledge and mastery of those elements, essential to the new life conditions of the client;
• the adjustment of the client and his significant others to the new situation;
• the adaptation of the environment;
• the safe return to the home environment.

➢ Approaches and techniques

The rehabilitation process at the IRGLM is based on four principles.

The client-centred approach
The client-centred ( -or personalized) approach is the foundation of the IRGLM's rehabilitation process. The client and his significant others are active members of the rehabilitation team ensure a smooth provision of the adaptation / rehabilitation process.

Interdisciplinary approach
The daily interventions of the clinicians are concerted, complementary and global.

There are a number of activities offered to achieve rehabilitation goals:

• daily life activities in clinical and natural environments;
• individual, spousal and family support;
• exercise programs;
• urology follow-up and intestinal care;
• perineal reeducation;
• educational programs;
• therapeutic integration outings and weekends at home prior to discharge;
• initiation to sports / leisure;
• sexology and fertility services.

These activities require the integrated action and contribution of all health care professionals. The same is required from the client and his significant others.

An environmentally-friendly approach
Clinicians prefer an environmentally-friendly approach. This approach encourages the imitation as closely as possible of the client's lown home environment. Evaluations and treatments are done both at the IRGLM and in the client's familiar or significant environment.

An educational approach
The goals of the educational approach are to promote, generalize and consolidate the learning experiences acquired through therapy at the IRGLM and in the home.


➢ The team

The team is under the supervision of a program manager, an assistant and a head of medical services. Coordination is ensured by an assistant to the supervisor in the case of nursing and by a clinical coordinator. The team composed of various health care professionals and physicians depending on the needs od each client , such as:

• occupational therapist;
• nurse;
• nursing assistant;
• psychologist;
• nutritionist;
• general practitioner;
• speech therapist;
• pharmacian;
• physiatrist;
• physiotherapist;
• beneficiary attendant;
• occupational therapy / physiotherapy attendants;
• sexologist;
• leisure technician;
• social worker;
• urologist.

Other interveners can be added to the team according to patient needs – a specialized educator, a neuropsychologist or some medical specialists (psychiatry, among others).

Close cooperation with the Technical aids services to ensure that orthotics and wheelchair positioning needs are answered.

The team can also depend on the services of a remedial teacher from the Commission scolaire de Montréal, as well as on the contribution of our faithful volunteers.

All interveners work closely together. They maintain their professional proficiency through the use of best practices and by getting involved in research projects.


➢ Partners

Within the framework of the Centre d’expertise pour les personnes blessées médullaires de l’Ouest du Québec, the IRGLM works in a complementary fashion with two other Montreal institutions:

• l’Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal : acute care and early rehabilitation;
• le Centre de réadaptation Lucie-Bruneau : social integration-based rehabilitation.

Privileged partnerships have been struck with:

• The National home ventilation program of the Montreal Chest Institute for the assisted-ventilation quadriplegic clientele;
• The Centre d’expertise pour les personnes blessées médullaires de l’Est du Québec (CEBMEQ), made up of the Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire de Québec (CHA) – Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus, and the Institut de réadaptation en déficiences physiques de Québec (IRDPQ);
• The Moelle épinière et motricité Québec (MEMO-Qc), who has many counsellors on site at the Institut;
• The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ);
• The Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST);
• The Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminelles (IVAC).

➢ Causes for admission

Traumatic lesions:

• falls
• road accidents
• sports injuries

Non-traumatic lesions:

• abscesses
• tumours
• myelopathy
• hematomas
• spinal stenosis
• discectomy