The rehabilitation of children with spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injured children have special needs because of their potential for physical, intellectual, psychological and social growth. The overriding goal for comprehensive medical rehabilitation is to provide services required by the child for maximal recovery and to compensate for lost or impaired function while permitting the fullest development of potential in all areas. Because spinal cord injuries in childhood are not common, it is imperative that rehabilitation should be comprehensively coordinated and directed by a single specialist taking overall responsibility for the chronic phase of management. Rehabilitation involves the child and his family, a hospital-based and rehabilitation centre-based team and a school. Every effort must be made to prevent medical and/or physical complications that could interfere with rehabilitation or lead to greater disability.