Pediatric Spinal Trauma: Review of 122 Cases of Spinal Cord and Vertebral Column Injuries *

The developing pediatric spine has several anatomical and biomechanical features that distinguish it from the mature adult spine and, accordingly, one would expect a distinct injury profile in children. Pediatric patients (<16 years) with acute vertebral column or spinal cord injuries were eligible. Patients with penetrating injuries to the spine or those with injuries associated with congenital vertebral column anomalies were excluded. The levels of injuries among the 15- and 16-year age group was similar to the distribution of spinal injuries in the adult population. Despite being one of the larger series of pediatric spinal injuries, the sample size is still relatively small. Many of the statistical comparisons did not reach significance, and we suspect this is primarily a power issue. Furthermore, operative stabilization is infrequently required, and the outcome after pediatric spinal trauma is generally favorable. Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality is thought to result from the mismatch in the elasticity of the vertebral column and spinal cord.