Fourteen‑year change in activities of daily living of a quadriplegic, ventilator‑managed patient injured by high cervical spinal cord injury during infancy: a case report

This case report describes the long-term change in ADL over time in a girl with severe high CSCI from an injury during infancy. Rehabilitation for quadriplegia, respiratory dysfunction, and autonomic neuropathy was started on the fifth day after the injury while she was in the intensive care unit. Afterwards, she continued to acquire skills through writing training using a mouse stick, computer operation training, and electric wheelchair operation training, which enabled her to improve her ADL despite her severe disability.

• 1
  Training that utilizes current technology and changes in the environment that are appropriate for daily life are important for improving the ADL of children with severe CSCI.
• 2
  The early introduction of a wheelchair and self-mobility for children with SCI had a positive impact on the children’s ability to learn, participate with peers, increase self-confidence, and reduce depression
• 3
  The improvement in her FIM score after entering a support school can be attributed to the introduction of a robot that assisted her in eating.