Long-Term Outcomes of Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injuries: Implications for Life Care Planning

Abstract

Development of a life care plan for youth with spinalcord injuries (SCI) requires a thorough understanding of thenatural history of pediatric-onset SCI, including psychosocialoutcomes and secondary health conditions. The life care planmust be comprehensive and individualized, accounting forthe unique developmental aspects of youth with SCI acrosstheir lifespan. From birth through young adulthood and intolate adulthood, changes occur in all domains of anindividual’s life including cognitive, psychosocial, familial,cultural, physical, and medical. Understanding the naturalhistory, unique features, and long-term outcomes ofpediatric-onset SCI assists in identifying future needs,including allocation of resources for the prevention andmanagement of secondary health conditions, potential foremployment and independent living, and the effect of aging.Therefore, the objective of this paper is to describe long-termoutcomes of individuals with pediatric-onset SCI and discussthe implications of these outcomes on life care planning, withan emphasis on developmental issues throughout thelifespan.