Abstract
A series of spinal cord injuries in children less than 13 years of age has been presented. The seven children were admitted to the Spinal Injuries Centre for Victoria between April 1968 and July 1969.
A common clinical feature of the patients was that vertebral injury was minimal or absent. A review of the literature revealed a paucity of information on the pathology of this syndrome.
It is postulated that the elastic, cartilaginous spine of a young child may be grossly distorted by a flexion/rotation force, but does not disrupt through its inherent elasticity. The spinal cord, however, is unable to withstand such stretching forces, and a longitudinal injury of the spinal cord may result.
The life expectation of these young patients is also discussed in the light of their good bladder function and sterile urine a short time after injury.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Attwood, H D & Stewart, A D (1968). Aust. N.Z. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 8, 33.
Audic, B & Maury, M (1969). Int. J. Paraplegia, 7, 10.
Bedbrook, G M (1966). Int. J. Paraplegia, 4, 43.
Crothers, B (1960). Birth injuries of the spinal cord. In Injuries of the Brain and Spinal Cord, edited by S. Brock, 4th Ed., pp. 523–529. London: Cassell.
Davison, C (1960). General pathological consideration in injuries of the spinal cord. In Injuries of the Brain and Spinal Cord, edited by S. Brock, 4th Ed., pp. 495–522. London: Cassell.
Dunlap, J P, Morris, M & Thompson, R G (1958). J. Bone Jt. Surg. 40-A, 681.
Guttmann, L (1960). Mother and Child, 31, 108.
Hellstrom, B & Sallmander, U (1965). J.A.M.A. 204, 1041.
Hughes, J T (1966). Pathology of the Spinal Cord, p. 58. London: Lloyd-Duke.
Kilfoyle, R M, Foley, J J & Norton, P L (1965). J. Bone Jt. Surg. 47-A, 659.
Leventhal, H A (1960). J. Paediatrics, 56, 447.
Melzak, J (1969). Lancet, ii, 45.
Norton, P L & Foley, J J (1959). J. Bone Jt. Surg. 41-A, 1291.
Romanes, G J (1963). Proceedings of a Symposium on Spinal Injuries. Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, pp. 1–9.
Stern, W E & Rand, R W (1959). Amer. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 78, 498.
Vigouroux, C, Baurand, C, Choux, M, Pellet, W & Guillermain, P (1968). Neurochirurgie, Paris, 14, 689.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burke, D. Spinal cord trauma in children. Spinal Cord 9, 1–14 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1971.1
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1971.1
This article is cited by
-
Non-locality and the misdiagnosis of Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormality: proof of concept
Spinal Cord Series and Cases (2019)
-
Early detection of thoracic spine fracture in the multiple trauma patient: Role of the initial portable chest radiograph
Emergency Radiology (1997)
-
The neuropathic bladder in children with spinal cord injury
Spinal Cord (1988)
-
Permanent flaccid paraplegia in children with thoracic spinal cord injury
Spinal Cord (1981)