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Paediatric spinal trauma presenting to a UK major trauma centre

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Abstract

Purpose

Paediatric spine trauma is uncommon and is managed differently from adults due to the anatomical differences of the paediatric spine. The paediatric spine is less ossified, with lax ligaments and a higher fulcrum in the c-spine which results in a different pattern of injuries. The aim of this study is to provide a contemporary audit of paediatric spinal trauma.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted using the Trauma and Audit Research Network database at a major trauma centre (2011–2018). All patients < 18 years old with a spine injury underwent case note and radiology review.

Results

A total of 72 patients (37, 51.4% male with an average age of 13.3 (± 5.9) years old) were identified. The most common mechanism of injury was road traffic collisions (n = 39, 54.2%). The most common sporting cause was motocross accidents (n = 6, 8.3%), and a further 6 (8.3%) patients had a suspected inflicted injury. Eight patients (11.1%) sustained a spinal cord injury. Twenty-seven (37.5%) patients underwent surgical intervention to treat their spinal injury.

Conclusion

This series demonstrates the profile of injury mechanisms causing paediatric spinal injuries. Paediatric spine injuries continue to have the potential for lifelong disability and require careful, specialist management. This series also highlights certain causes such as motocross accidents and suspected inflicted injury which are more frequent than expected and raise potential public health concerns.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK

    James Booker

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Wessex Neurological Centre, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK

    Samuel Hall, Alexander Dando, Nijaguna Mathad, Ryan Waters, Vassilios Tsitouras, Nilesh Mundil, Salima Wahab & Aabir Chakraborty

  3. Department of Orthopaedics, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK

    Christopher Dare, Evan Davies & Stephen McGillion

Authors
  1. James Booker
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  2. Samuel Hall
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  3. Alexander Dando
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  4. Christopher Dare
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  5. Evan Davies
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  6. Stephen McGillion
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  7. Nijaguna Mathad
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  9. Vassilios Tsitouras
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  11. Salima Wahab
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  12. Aabir Chakraborty
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Contributions

The drafting of the manuscript was done by Booker J, Hall S, and Dando A. In addition, the analysis and interpretation of data were done by Booker J and Hall S. The remaining authors participated in the conception and design of the study as well as the review of the manuscript. Each author participated sufficiently to meet the criteria for authorship according to ICMJE.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samuel Hall.

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This study did not require ethics approval because the data was collected retrospectively and presented anonymously, and had no impact on the care received by each patient.

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The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Booker, J., Hall, S., Dando, A. et al. Paediatric spinal trauma presenting to a UK major trauma centre. Childs Nerv Syst 37, 1949–1956 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-021-05044-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-021-05044-8

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