Pediatric cervical spine injuries: report of 102 cases and review of the literature

Object. To evaluate and review their experience with pediatric cervical injuries and factors affecting outcome, the authors conducted a retrospective clinical study of 102 cases (65% boys, 35% girls) of pediatric cervical spine injuries treated in the last decade. This study is an extension of and comparison with their earlier experience. Methods. Patients were divided into two age groups—birth to 9 years (Group 1) and 10 to 16 years of age (Group 2)—and managed according to status at presentation and type of injury. Thirty patients were managed surgically and 72 nonsurgically (42 wore a halo brace and 30 wore hard collars or custom-molded braces). Motor vehicle accidents were the most common cause of injury, and 40% were associated with head injury. Patients in the younger-age group (Group 1) sustained more neurological injuries than the older patients in Group 2, and most injuries were in the upper cervical spine. Of the 38 children in Group 1, in 39% a subluxation was present and in 29% a fracture or f...