Spinal cord injury in children and adolescents: Diagnostic pitfalls and therapeutic considerations in the acute stage

Abstract

Traumatic spinal cord lesions in children are infrequent. Traffic accidents are responsible for at least 50 per cent, playground accidents and various sports add another 35 per cent. Radiological signs of spinal trauma are less evident than in adults, they may be missing totally. In the initial treatment of spinal cord injury, only conservative measures should be considered, there are no indications for laminectomy or spinal fusions. © 1977, International Spinal Cord Society. All rights reserved.