What’s the major goal of rehabilitation? - Donald Peck Leslie, MD

The major goal is independence, whatever level of independence is possible with the injury level that the person has. If a person is quadriplegic versus paraplegic, the goals are quite different of course. If a person is ventilator dependent at least temporarily, the goal would be to get off of the ventilator and to breathe spontaneously. If the person cannot get off the ventilator, then maybe we need to talk about doing DBS, a stimulating, a pacing system of the diaphragm which allows them to get off of the ventilator, at least part of the day. So, the goals are individualized to each patient depending on the level, and the nature and the classification of their injury by the ASIA standards, the American Spinal Injury Association.