[Traumatic spinal cord injury in children; early and late effects].

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) have physical, emotional, psychological and economic consequences for patients. Although SCIs in children are rare, they have to cope with the consequences for the rest of their lives. In this article, three children who presented at our emergency department are discussed. These children had suffered SCIs from different etiologies. Most SCIs are caused by trauma and more males than females suffer SCIs. The younger children are, the more likely they will sustain cervical SCIs, which can be attributed to several distinct anatomical differences in the juvenile spine. Depending on the level of the spine injured, multiple secondary problems can occur. In this article, we paint a picture of the complex and multidisciplinary treatment and rehabilitation of young SCI patients and emphasise the need for treatment to take place in a specialised (children's) rehabilitation unit.