Spinal Cord
The Spinal Cord Clinic is part of the Neurosciences program. We provide interdisciplinary care for children and youth and their families who suffer from disorders related to the spinal cord due to a variety of congenital and acquired conditions.
Please note: this clinic does not treat orthopedic spine conditions. Visit the Orthopedic Clinic web page for more information.
The Spinal Cord Clinic is part of the Neurosciences program. It is a provincial program that serves children and youth from birth to 18 years old who have an abnormality of the spinal cord and either:
- Are at risk for neurological impairments
- Already have impairments and require ongoing management of the condition
Conditions may be congenital, such as spina bifida and other forms of dysraphism, or acquired due to trauma, infection, tumour, or stroke of the spinal cord.
We work closely with community therapists, family doctors and pediatricians. We help patients transition to adult services.
We also offer pre-natal consultations in collaboration with BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre's Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic, Medical Genetics, and the Fetal Diagnosis Service.
Referral information
To access our services, patients need a referral from a pediatrician. Providers can find more details on our Spinal Cord Referral page.
Appointment details
Your child or youth may need additional tests such as X-rays or lab work. We may schedule these appointments before or after clinic hours. Please plan to be available until at least 3 p.m.
Our clinic report includes team recommendations.
Learn more about the spinal cord team in this informative video.
Contact us
Our clinical hours are from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Address:
1st Floor, Area 5
Ambulatory Care Building
BC Children’s Hospital
4480 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3V4
Phone: 604-875-2975
Fax: 604-875-2553
Families or caregivers may contact the nurse coordinator for support for non-urgent or emergent questions. They will return your call as soon as possible.
Providers may contact us for support if they have questions about the appropriateness of a referral, notice a change in a patient’s neurological condition, or have questions about the medical management of a spinal cord injury patient.
Additional resources
For patients and families
- Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of British Columbia
- American Spinal Injury Association
- Spinal Cord Injury BC
For clinicians
SVG
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Indigenous Health
We advocate for and provide support to Indigenous patients and families who are visiting the hospital.