Abstract
An 18-month-old child was rendered tetraplegic below C6 in a road traffic accident. There was an associated fracture-dislocation of the atlanto-axial joint. Early management, and the probable role of autonomic dysreflexia in increasing the neurological deficit are considered.
References
Bors, E & Blinn, K A (1957. Spinal reflex activity from the vesical mucosa in paraplegic patients. Archs Neurol. Psychiat., 78, 339–354.
Burke, D C (1976). Injuries of the spinal cord in children. In Handbook of Clinical Neurology, vol. 25. Injuries of the Spine and Spinal Cord, Part I, pp. 175–195. P. J. Vinken & G. M. Bruyn (eds.). North Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam.
Breig, A (1960). Biomechanics of the Central Nervous System. Alamqyist and Wiksells, Uppsala.
Draycott, V (1973). Spina bifida splint. Brit. Med. J., 1, 743.
Guttmann, L & Whitteridge, D (1947). Effects of bladder distension on autonomic mechanisms after spinal cord injury. Brain, 70, 361–405.
Hacken, H J (1977). Spinal injury in children and adolescents: diagnostic pitfalls and therapeutic considerations in the acute stage. Paraplegia, 15, 55–64.
Head, H & Riddock, G (1917). The automatic bladder, excessive sweating and some other reflex conditions in gross injuries of the spinal cord. Brain, 40, 188–263.
McSweeney, T (1976). Deformities of the spine following injuries to the cord. In Handbook of Clinical Neurology, vol. 26. Injuries of the Spine and Spinal Cord, Part II, P. J. Vinken & G. H. Bruyn (eds.), pp. 159–184. North Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam.
Melzak, J (1969). Paraplegia among Children. Lancet, 2, 45–48.
Renard, M, Tridon, P, Kuhaust, M, Renauld, J M & Dolfuss, P (1978). Three unusual cases of spinal cord injury in childhood. Paraplegia, 16, 130–134.
Rose, G K (1970). Splintage for severe spina bifida cystica. J. Bone and Joint Surg., 52, B.1, 178–179.
Rose, G K & Henshaw, J T (1972). A swivel walker for paraplegics: medical and technical considerations. Biomed. Eng., 7, 9, 420–425.
Rose, G K & Henshaw, J T (1963). Swivel walkers for paraplegics: considerations and problems in their design and application. Bull. Pros. Res., B.D.R. 10-20, 62–74.
Stallard, J, Rose, G K & Farmer, I R (1978). The Orlau Swivel Walker. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 21, 43–47.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McSweeney, T. Traumatic atlanto-axial fracture dislocation in a child. Spinal Cord 17, 372–376 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1979.70
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1979.70
Keywords
- Atlanto-axial dislocation
- Spinal cord injury
- Encephalopathy
- Dysreflexia
