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

Development of a life care plan for youth with spinal cord injuries (SCI) requires a thorough understanding of the natural history of pediatric-onset SCI, including psychosocial outcomes and secondary health conditions. The life care plan must be comprehensive and individualized, accounting for the unique developmental aspects of youth with SCI across their lifespan. From birth through young adulthood and into late adulthood, changes occur in all domains of an individual’s life including cognitive, psychosocial, familial, cultural, physical, and medical. Understanding the natural history, unique features, and long-term outcomes of pediatric-onset SCI assists in identifying future needs, including allocation of resources for the prevention and management of secondary health conditions, potential for employment and independent living, and the effect of aging. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to describe long-term outcomes of individuals with pediatric-onset SCI and discuss the implications of these outcomes on life care planning, with an emphasis on developmental issues throughout the lifespan.