The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation team at Shriners
Hospitals for Children – Northern California is devoted to giving
children with spinal cord injury comprehensive and compassionate
care that will restore their ability, confidence and
independence. Our commitment extends to advancing care through
scientific and clinical research.
Our team is uniquely qualified to care for the needs of the
growing child and adolescent with a spinal cord injury. We strive
to help each child and their family reach the highest possible
level of independence and to maximize their potential for
functional recovery.
Spinal Cord Injury and Transverse Myelitis
- Acute care, including surgical spine stabilization
- Primary rehabilitation
- Secondary rehabilitation
- Upper extremity surgical reconstruction
- Urologic surgical reconstruction
Medical Innovation
With innovation comes independence. Gripping a pen, moving an arm
and breathing independently can make all the difference in the
life of a child with a spinal cord injury. Surgeons at Shriners
Hospital offer tendon transfers that restore functional use of
upper extremities. Surgical implant of a phrenic nerve pacer has
allowed severely injured children to breathe without a
ventilator.
Collaborative Approach to Care
Patients and families can expect to benefit from the expertise of
a multi-disciplinary team that includes:
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Care Coordinators
- Child Life Specialists
- Dietitians
- Hand Surgeons
- Kinesiologists
- Neurologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Pediatric Orthopaedists
- Pediatric Physiatrists
- Pediatricians
- Physical Therapists
- Psychologists
- Recreation Therapists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Social Workers
- Speech Pathologists
- Spine Surgeons
- Teachers
- Transition Specialists
- Urologists
A Facility Designed for Children
Spinal cord injury care and rehabilitation is delivered in a
hospital designed specifically to serve the medical and emotional
needs of children. Patients participate in recreational
activities with other children in brightly lit play areas
equipped with video games, craft centers, and games that enhance
the family-friendly environment of care. Outings to movies,
plays, sporting events and shopping malls are organized to give
children with spinal cord injuries an opportunity to engage in
their communities under the supervision of trained recreation
specialists. Award-winning art programs give patients an
opportunity to experiment with adaptive devices and encourage
creative expression.
The Medical Team
Loren Davidson,
M.D.
Director, Spinal Cord Injury
Dr. Davidson, a Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
specialist, leads a multi-disciplinary team of professionals
devoted to addressing the medical, developmental, social and
educational needs of each patient.
Erica Daharsh, M.S.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Case Manager
Scientific and Clinical Research
Approximately 12,000 cases of spinal cord injury are reported in
the United States each year. Researchers at the Northern
California Shriners Hospital hope to find a way to help spinal
cord injury so children paralyzed by disease and injury can walk
again. Dr. David Pleasure, Director of Research, is working to create therapies to
prevent damage to spinal cord function caused by inflammation
that may occur after immunizations and viral infections or as a
side effect of a disease, such as multiple sclerosis.
