Psycho-social Sequelae Following Spinal Cord Injury amongst Children: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Psycho-social problems are consistently reported following spinal cord injury (SCI) and are highly prevalent, especially in the long-term post-injury in children. This review aims to comprehensively study psycho-social issues experienced by children with SCI and highlight their importance and inform management practices. A search strategy was designed to identify studies that evaluated psycho-social outcomes of SCI among children. Five electronic databases were searched. All articles written in English published in peer-reviewed journals between 2000 and 2020, and available in the public domain were considered as per the eligibility criteria. A total of nineteen studies were included for the review as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This review has included studies focusing on various psycho-social issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, coping, quality of life, participation, sexuality, substance abuse, life satisfaction, suicide, family dynamics, and education. Children with Spinal Cord Injury (CwSCI) experience diverse psycho-social issues that cause significant morbidity in various domains of life. Understanding the unique nature of several psycho-social issues among children with spinal cord injury is crucial for clinicians and health care workers involved. We recommend a multi-disciplinary team approach for comprehensive management of children with spinal cord injury at trauma and rehabilitation centres for better psychosocial outcomes and overall quality of life.

Keywords

• children
• psychosocial
• spinal cord injury
• systematic review