REHABILITATION AFTER PEDIATRIC SPINAL FRACTURES

Pediatric spinal fractures are serious injuries with significant morbidity and mortality rates. These injuries require a unique approach due to the anatomical and biomechanical differences between chil-dren and adults. Rehabilitation planning must consider the child’s growth and development process, aiming for long-term recovery. Challenges include children’s adherence to conservative treatments and rehabilitation protocols, which necessitate a multidisciplinary team effort addressing both physical and psychosocial dimensions. Rehabilitation is tailored based on the type of injury, surgical intervention, and neurological status of the patient. Early stages focus on pain management, complication preven-tion, and initial mobilization, while later stages aim for functional independence and improved quality of life. Rare conditions like spinal cord injuries demand special attention to complications such as spas-ticity, bowel and bladder dysfunction, spinal deformities, and hip dislocations. Recent advancements in neuroregenerative therapies and advanced rehabilitation techniques have shown promise in pediatric spinal injuries. These approaches promote neural repair, functional recovery, and reintegration into physical and social activities, significantly improving the long-term outcomes for affected children.