title: Epidemiology and Management of Injuries to the Spinal Cord and Column in Pediatric Multiple-Trauma Patients.
abstract: Injuries to the spinal column and cord in children are a rare condition. Epidemiological data could help to establish an evidence-based assessment and therapy of these patients. We present a retrospective chart analysis of children with spinal injuries who were admitted to the emergency room. The patients were analyzed regarding age, mechanism, and distribution of their injuries to all spinal regions and treatment strategies. Thirty-five children met the inclusion criteria with severe spinal injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] for Region 6 [spine]; AIS region 6) in a period from January 2003 to December 2009. The incidence was extremely low in younger children, with increasing numbers during adolescence. Neurological deficit without fracture accounted for almost 25% of all patients. The majority of patients were treated conservatively; operative treatment was performed in 25% of patients with unstable fractures, particularly in adolescents. Treatment strategies differ according to the type and degree of injury, age, and level of spine maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. christoph.nau@kgu.de.|Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. christoph.nau@kgu.de.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nau
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jakob
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Dorien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schneidmüller
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Laurer
keywords: Children; Epidemiologic data; Spine trauma; Treatment
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