[Traumatic juvenile paraplegia].

We describe the special features and complications connected with the acute phase and long-term course in 28 children with traumatic paraplegia seen for an average duration of 9 1/2 years. Recognition of spinal cord injury was delayed in a third of the cases due to skull and brain trauma and/or multiple injuries. There was subsequently a partial improvement in the neurological status of 7 of 23 children who were initially considered to have sustained complete paraplegia. The extent of independence, education, further training and social integration achieved is impressive and emphasizes the enormous significance of rehabilitation which is particularly complex and laborious in the case of paraplegic children.