Self-injurious behavior in children and adolescents with spinal cord injuries.
METHODS
A case report of self-injurious behavior in four children and adolescents with spinal cord injuries (SCI).


OBJECTIVE
To report a relatively unusual complication of pediatric-onset SCI, focusing on the potential role that dysesthesia may play in self-injurious behavior.


METHODS
A Spinal Cord Injury Program in a Children's Hospital in Chicago that serves children from midwestern and south-central United States of America.


METHODS
Case reports and literature review.


RESULTS
Case reports are presented of four children or adolescents with SCI who exhibited self-injurious behavior. Two of the subjects had symptoms consistent with dysesthesia. The self-injurious behavior in these two subjects and a very young child responded to treatment with anticonvulsants. The self-injurious behavior in the fourth patient was probably the result of poor technique of using his mouth to move his hands, which responded to conservative management including education, occupational therapy and gloves.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-injurious behavior is a relatively unusual complication of pediatric onset SCI, and may be a manifestation of dysesthesia and be responsive to treatment with anticonvulsants.
Vogel
L C
LC
Chief of Pediatrics, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Chicago Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Anderson
C J
CJ
D000085:Acetates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000503:physiopathology; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D002220:Carbamazepine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin