Some literary accounts of possible childhood paraplegia and neurorehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To identify examples of the practice of neurorehabilitation in 19th and early 20th century NOVELS.


METHODS
Four case of apparent childhood paraplegia, which date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, are described. The approaches to facilitate clinical recovery are summarized.


RESULTS
Common themes identified in these four literary accounts include a passive approach to intervention, use of specialist input and provision of other treatments (e.g. baths, iron braces).


CONCLUSIONS
These literary accounts may, despite all their acknowledged shortcomings, give some insights into contemporary lay concepts of neurorehabilitation.
Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Fazakerley, Liverpool, UK.
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AJ
Larner
D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008093:Literature, Modern; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*