Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

The pediatric spinal cord injury rehabilitation program at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia is a well-established program for children and adolescents with spinal cord injuries.

While other adult and pediatric hospitals may provide care to children with spinal cord injuries (SCI) as part of their adult programs, our program is designed specifically to treat spinal cord injuries in children. Because of our single focus on pediatric SCI, we are able to design treatment regimes to help prevent secondary complications and optimize outcomes. In addition, children and families who receive SCI care at our hospital benefit from the shared common experiences of other children and families undergoing care.

The spinal cord injury program at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia provides comprehensive care to children and adolescents who have received an injury to their spinal cord; whether traumatic or non-traumatic.

An interdisciplinary team approach is used to ensure comprehensive care for each patient. The staff includes: spine surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons specializing in the upper and lower extremities, pediatrician/physiatrist, psychologist, social workers, rehabilitation nurses, care coordination, physical, occupational and speech therapists, recreation/child life therapists, orthotists, and teachers. Consultants include: urologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists and psychiatrists.

Children with spinal cord injuries are uniquely different from adults with spinal cord injuries.

The Spinal Cord Injury Program includes:

• Emergency stabilization
• Pediatric critical and intensive care
• Rehabilitation medicine
• Activity-based rehabilitation program
• Orthopaedic surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Care coordination
• Discharge planning and coordination
• Social work/case management
• Psychology
• Urology/bladder & bowel training
• Rehabilitation nursing
• Physical, occupational and speech therapies
• Therapeutic recreation/child Life
• Orthotics & prosthetics
• Wheelchairs and seating
• Assistive technology
• Ventilator weaning and management
• Peer support
• Research programs and clinical trials

The hospital has a research facility with many active studies that aim to improve the health, wellness and functional independence of children with spinal cord injury.