Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury: Overview of Clinical and Rehabilitative Management

Travis Edmiston; Janet Dean; Samantha Wu; Cristina Sadowsky

doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2025.03.014

Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury: Overview of Clinical and Rehabilitative Management

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2025 Aug;36(3):499-512. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2025.03.014. Epub 2025 Apr 30.

Authors

Travis Edmiston¹, Janet Dean², Samantha Wu³, Cristina Sadowsky²

Affiliations

¹ Pediatric and Adult Spinal Cord Injury, International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 801 N Broadway, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: Edmiston@kennedykrieger.org.
² International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 801 N Broadway, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
³ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 801 N Broadway, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

PMID: 40581436
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2025.03.014

Abstract

Pediatric spinal cord injury (SCI) is a rare but devastating group of processes affecting children and their families. Following an initial event, many secondary health conditions (SHC) predictably develop and change over time that require management. We discuss many of these SHC in the context of pediatric SCI. The transitions to home, school, and adulthood play critical roles in wellness for this population and are uniquely discussed in this review of care following pediatric SCI.

Keywords: Neuroregeneration; Pediatric spinal cord injury; Rehabilitation; Spinal cord dysfunction.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Humans
Spinal Cord Injuries* / complications
Spinal Cord Injuries* / rehabilitation