Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injury Treatment
Although complete damage to the spinal cord cannot be reversed, comprehensive treatment can help your child live a full life. While researchers continue to make progress in potential breakthroughs, Gillette focuses on helping children and teens develop strength, skills and confidence to achieve their highest levels of health, independence and happiness.
Kids and teens that have spinal cord injuries often need the following types of care.
Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation care plays an important role in the health, independence and happiness of your child following a spinal cord injury. Gillette is the region’s top provider of full pediatric inpatient rehabilitation care. Your care team will include specialists in:
Orthotics, Prosthetics and Seating can help your child manage the day-to-day challenges that accompany a spinal cord injury. Your child's occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists work with orthotics, prosthetics and seating specialists to help your child choose the right rehabilitative equipment to make sure they are as independent as possible.
Depending on the level of injury, equipment might include:
- Braces (also known as orthoses).
- Seating and mobility equipment.
- Environmental control devices or phone and computer access equipment.
Your child might try various pieces of equipment during their hospital stay to figure out which options best meet their needs.
Patient Education Resources:
- Addressing Sexual Development within the Hospital Setting
- Ankle-Foot Orthosis - Translations included
- Autonomic Dysreflexia
- Bacterial Colonization in Urine and Symptomatic Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Bowel Management – Translations included
- Breath Stacking (Lung Volume Recruitment)
- Clean Intermittent Catheterization at Home: Female
- Clean Intermittent Catheterization at Home: Male
- Emergency Tracheostomy Care at Home
- Finding Socks and Shoes to Wear With Your Brace - Translations included
- Gastrostomy Tubes
- Healthy Weight Guide
- High-Fiber Diets – Translations
- Irrigating the Bladder
- Mitrofanoff Procedure
- Nutrition and Healing - Translations included
- Oral Hygiene
- Pin/Wire Site Care - Translations included
- Pressure Sores
- Spasticity
- Sleep Hygiene – Translations included
- Suction Information
- Trauma, Its Effects on Children – Translations included
- Watch Out for Pressure Ulcers – Translations included
- Wearing a Hard Cervical Collar
Integrated Care
Your child might receive care from providers in these specialties and services during the process of spinal cord injury recovery:
Explore Spinal Cord Injury Resources
United Spinal Association
Resource dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Resource for people living with spinal injuries to get free support and find opportunities to get involved with the spinal injury community.
SPINALpedia
A social mentoring network and video archive for the spinal cord injury community.
Parent Resources and Support
As part of our comprehensive approach to care, we’ve curated a list of resources to help you connect with other parents.
Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence (SCIRE)
SCIRE searches the published literature and compiles public health relevant reviews on a comprehensive set of topics relevant to SCI rehabilitation and community reintegration
Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Services
Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Services from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).
Direct Support Connect
A job board for direct support workers and the people who hire them.