General Principles in Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

Spinal cord injuries cause many important changes in a person’s life; the result is even more tragic if a child with limited experience of life is affected. Approaches to pediatric rehabilitation are different from those for adults. Rehabilitation principles and goals should change in parallel with the growth and development in children and adolescents. Rehabilitation should be family centered due to the important role of the family in the child’s life. The aim is to have a healthy, happy and productive adult following a healthy childhood and adolescence. The general principles of pediatric spinal cord injury rehabilitation and some medical problems encountered during this period are summarized in this article.Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2008; 54 Suppl 2: 59-61.