Pediatric Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Care
On this page
Neurotrauma care for children
Our pediatric neurotrauma team has deep expertise in caring for children of all ages with traumatic brain or spinal injuries. By working together, our specialists quickly reach the correct diagnosis and create a treatment plan to put your child on the road to recovery.
From diagnosis through follow-up care, we prioritize your child's comfort and recovery and your peace of mind.
Our team includes neuroscience experts and specialists from our Level I Pediatric Trauma Care Center – the highest level of pediatric trauma care verified by the American College of Surgeons. We're one of only a few Level 1 trauma centers in California. We're also leaders in neurotrauma research, bringing the latest evidence-based therapies to our young patients.
Multi-specialty collaborative team
Brain and spinal injuries can be complex, so your child's team may include experts in:
We also have specialized programs to address specific conditions, including:
Compassionate care
Anxiety and stress can affect recovery, so our team makes sure your child feels as safe and calm as possible. Our certified child life specialists are experts at helping kids feel more comfortable during tests and treatments. They explain procedures using age-appropriate language so your child can understand what's happening.
Traumatic injury emergency services
We offer 24/7 neurotrauma emergency services for children. Our equipment is designed for kids, and our providers are experts in pediatric injuries, providing the best possible outcomes.
Neurotrauma care for children
Our pediatric neurotrauma team has deep expertise in caring for children of all ages with traumatic brain or spinal injuries. By working together, our specialists quickly reach the correct diagnosis and create a treatment plan to put your child on the road to recovery.
From diagnosis through follow-up care, we prioritize your child's comfort and recovery and your peace of mind.
Our team includes neuroscience experts and specialists from our Level I Pediatric Trauma Care Center – the highest level of pediatric trauma care verified by the American College of Surgeons. We're one of only a few Level 1 trauma centers in California. We're also leaders in neurotrauma research, bringing the latest evidence-based therapies to our young patients.
Multi-specialty collaborative team
Brain and spinal injuries can be complex, so your child's team may include experts in:
We also have specialized programs to address specific conditions, including:
Compassionate care
Anxiety and stress can affect recovery, so our team makes sure your child feels as safe and calm as possible. Our certified child life specialists are experts at helping kids feel more comfortable during tests and treatments. They explain procedures using age-appropriate language so your child can understand what's happening.
Traumatic injury emergency services
We offer 24/7 neurotrauma emergency services for children. Our equipment is designed for kids, and our providers are experts in pediatric injuries, providing the best possible outcomes.
Providers
Christopher Newton, MD
Pediatric Surgery
Sharon Orbach Wietstock, MD, MS
Neurology • Pediatric Neurology
Awards & achievements
#1
in NIH funding among U.S. neurology programs
One of the nation's best for neurology & neurosurgery
Ranked among the nation's best in 11 specialties
Related conditions & treatments
Conditions
- Brain Injury
- Concussion
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Treatments
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation
- Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
- Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Navigating pediatric medical trauma
1 of 3
Patient & physician resources
- Concussion guide for infants and toddlersDownload
- Concussion guide for infants and toddlers - SpanishDownload
- Concussion guide for school-age children (5 years and older)Download
- Concussion guide for school-age children (5 years and older) - SpanishDownload
- Pediatrician-designed concussion care plan for school-age children (5 years and older) - SpanishDownload
- Pediatrician-designed concussion care plan for school-age children (5 years and older)Download
Support services
Child Life
Certified child life specialists ease the stress and anxiety of childhood illness through therapeutic play, schooling and family-focused support.
Family Amenities
Family-friendly amenities help you relax and take care of yourself while staying close to your child. We offer lounges, kitchens, showers, breastfeeding rooms and more.
Social Services at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
Social workers ease the effect of illness, injury and hospitalization on your family with counseling and assistance to help you navigate the challenges.
Activity Rooms
Activity rooms offer a relaxed environment for children of all ages. Features include a playroom, digital arts studio and teen lounge. Find out more.
Pediatric Art Therapy Program
Art therapy helps kids and families express themselves, making it easier to cope with pediatric health issues. Group and bedside services are available.
Pediatric Music Therapy Program
Board-certified music therapists help kids cope with illness and the feelings that come with it. Find out about group activities and bedside therapy.
School Program for Hospitalized Children
Our schoolroom services and individual learning programs help children hospitalized at UCSF continue their education and get ready to return to school.
School Re-Entry Program
We help kids return to school after hospitalization by educating staff and students about their needs and recommending needed accommodations. Read more.
Individual Playtime & Instruction
If your child can't be around other kids for medical reasons, you can sign up for private sessions in our activity and school rooms. Find out how.
Interpreter Services & Communication Assistance at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
Interpreter services in many languages and TDDs are available for families that need help communicating with care teams. Here's how to access them.
Parent Support Program
Weekly activities, including knitting, scrapbooking, chair massage and more, help family caregivers get a much-needed break. Find out more.
Patient Relations at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
Patient relations reps and nursing supervisors are here to answer questions and address concerns. Learn about your rights, how to reach us and more.
Spiritual Care at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
Chaplains help UCSF patients, families and staff cope with the spiritual and emotional challenges of childhood illness. Learn more.
International Services at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
If you're coming to UCSF from outside the U.S., we coordinate your child's appointments and provide other helpful services. Here's how to get started.
Authoring Notes
Preprod-only checklist. Remove this component before promoting to prod.
Content source URLs (1)
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Warnings (8)
- why_body_copy missing; used Body Copy 1 content for Why Choose UCSF
- Provider not found in providers_catalog.json: sharon-orbach-wietstock
- Provider 'sharon-orbach-wietstock' not found under /sitecore/content/UCSFWEB/Live/UCSF/Home/Providers
- Care keyword 'neurotrauma' not found under /sitecore/content/UCSFWEB/Shared/Base/Data/Clinical Tag Library/Clinical Keywords — add an entry to clinical_keyword_aliases.json if the Sitecore item is named differently.
- Care keyword 'pediatric neurotrauma' not found under /sitecore/content/UCSFWEB/Shared/Base/Data/Clinical Tag Library/Clinical Keywords — add an entry to clinical_keyword_aliases.json if the Sitecore item is named differently.
- Care keyword 'pediatric trauma care center' not found under /sitecore/content/UCSFWEB/Shared/Base/Data/Clinical Tag Library/Clinical Keywords — add an entry to clinical_keyword_aliases.json if the Sitecore item is named differently.
- Care keyword 'spinal injury' not found under /sitecore/content/UCSFWEB/Shared/Base/Data/Clinical Tag Library/Clinical Keywords — add an entry to clinical_keyword_aliases.json if the Sitecore item is named differently.
- H1 renamed 'Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Care' -> 'Pediatric Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Care' (from CDP New Page H1 Override); MetaTitle updated to match. Eyeball the body copy and meta description for the old name (leave adult-care mentions as-is).
Word doc notes (5)
Lauren Lamb · 2025-08-19T12:24:00Z
Anchored to: “Meta and tags”
Primary keyword: neurotrauma
Secondary keywords: pediatric neurotrauma, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, concussion, pediatric trauma care center
Lauren Lamb · 2026-01-09T12:10:00Z
Anchored to: “R2: Stakeholder Review”
UCSF: Since this was not deemed a strategic marketing page, we did not conduct a SME interview to provide differentiators for this service, nor will these undergo SME review.
Pratz, Valerie · 2026-01-16T18:03:00Z
Anchored to: “in NIH funding among U.S. neurology programs”
Is this for UCSF health as a whole, including BCH?
Kate CN · 2026-01-20T09:50:00Z
Anchored to: “in NIH funding among U.S. neurology programs”This accolade appears on the BCH page of the spreadsheet, so presumably BCH benefits.
TZOORE, SIERRA · 2026-01-27T13:08:00Z
Anchored to: “child life specialists”
Production: Please hyperlink to the new page for Child Life. (On the current site: https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/services/child-life)
Lauren Lamb · 2026-05-08T12:10:00Z
Anchored to: “Neurotrauma Care for Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries”
UCSF Web Team: Page Meta Title/H1 updated by Sierra Tzoore.