S03: Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury: An Overlooked Aspect of Neurotrauma Rehabilitation

Chair: P. David Adelson, MD

S03.01 - Epidemiology/Clinical Management of Pediatric SCI

  Rachel Stanley, MD - Ohio State University

S03.02 - Clinical Management of Pediatric SCI

   Nicholas Theodore, MD - Barrow Neurological Institute

S03.03 - Considerations of Clinical Rehabilitation for Pediatric SCI

   Cristina Sadowsky, MD – Kennedy Krieger Institute

Session Description

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) occur in the pediatric population, however not with the same frequency as adult SCI or pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). Perhaps for these reasons alone, the body of knowledge related to the clinical management, rehabilitation efficacy, and translational research are sparse. Based on current understanding of adult SCI and pediatric TBI, it becomes necessary to explore the epidemiology, current clinical practices, rehabilitation opportunities, and research questions related to pediatric SCI. This session will highlight the differences between adult and pediatric SCI, deliver the current state of the topic from a neurosurgical and rehabilitation perspective and then propose translational research opportunities to advance the field.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:

1) Discuss the epidemiology and scope of pediatric SCI
2) Distinguish adult SCI from pediatric SCI
3) Recognize rehabilitation opportunities and challenges in the pediatric SCI population
4) Evaluate translational research opportunities targeting pediatric SCI