The spinal cord carries messages between the brain and the body, but injuries from incidents such as falls and car accidents can impair that line of communication. The relationship between the brain and the rest of the body is so vital that children who sustain bruises and tears to their spinal cord may die or face permanent disability. Still, you shouldn't lose hope if you have a child who has survived her injury. Early intervention and a solid rehabilitation program can improve her chances of thriving.
Initial Treatment
During the initial stages of your child's rehabilitation, a team of medical professionals such as nurses, doctors and physical therapists will work together to stabilize his condition. Emergency medical care typically involves immobilizing his head and neck to keep him from moving around, monitoring his vital signs and body temperature and offering pain management. Surgery may also be necessary to evaluate the injury, stabilize fractured bones, release pressure in the injured area and manage other potential injuries.
Acute Care
Early spinal cord injury rehab steps involve maintaining and strengthening your child's existing muscle function, rebuilding fine motor skills and learning new techniques to accomplish daily tasks. Acute rehabilitation may take place in your pediatric hospital's in-house rehab unit or you may need to take your child to a freestanding rehab center that has the same or similar features. Your child may need at least one assistive device in order to communicate or be mobile as independently as possible.
Team and Therapies
Your child's rehab team, which works in sync to offer a comprehensive rehab treatment, is likely to be led by a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation and physical medicine. The type and severity of your child's injury will help determine who is on your child's rehab team. Other team members may include a social worker, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, a rehabilitation nurse, a psychologist and a dietitian. Each professional specializes in a rehab-specific area. For example, a speech therapist can aid in language evaluations and an occupational therapist may help your child develop independent living skills such as self-feeding and dressing.
Considerations
You and your child's rehab team will adjust treatment goals and methods based on your child's stage of development. For example, if your child is very young he will likely be more receptive to a play-oriented strengthening program and will be more dependent on your assistance in daily care. If he is under 8 to 10 years old and is unable to use his legs, he likely won't have the upper body strength to power a manual wheelchair or transfer himself from his wheelchair to his bed. His rehab will be an ongoing process that is adapted to suit his needs and abilities as he gets older.
References
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta: Acute Inpatient Therapy
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Spinal Cord Injury
- MayoClinic.com: Spinal Cord Injury: Treatments and Drugs
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons: Pediatric Spinal Cord and Spinal Column Trauma
- Children's Hospital Boston: Spinal Cord Injury
- Northwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury System: SCI in Children and Teens
