Abstract
Cervical spine injuries in the pediatric population are rare. Most injuries to the cervical spinal cord and vertebral column can be managed nonoperatively; however, surgical management may be required in certain clinical scenarios. A posterior surgical approach has been previously preferred; however, the utilization of anterior spinal fixation and instrumentation has been limited. We present a small case series of patients presenting with a traumatic cervical spine injury and detail the feasibility of craniocervical junction (CVJ) and subaxial spinal fixation in the pediatric population.We report four cases involving pediatric patients, all of whom presented with cervical spine injuries necessitating operative intervention using a combination of the anterior and posterior operative approaches. All four patients recovered well, did not require surgical revision, and were neurologically intact at the last follow-up. Therefore, we conclude that spinal arthrodesis is a safe, effective way to manage spinal injuries in the cervical spine following traumatic injury.
Highlights
Cervical spine injuries in children are rare, occurring in 1% to 2% of the pediatric population [1,2]
Most injuries to the cervical spinal cord and vertebral column can be managed nonoperatively; surgical management may be required in certain clinical scenarios
We present a small case series of patients presenting with a traumatic cervical spine injury and detail the feasibility of craniocervical junction (CVJ) and subaxial spinal fixation in the pediatric population
Summary
Cervical spine injuries in children are rare, occurring in 1% to 2% of the pediatric population [1,2]. The craniovertebral junction is the most susceptible zone of pediatric spine injury and potential instability due to the predisposition to increased motion in children, lessdeveloped muscles and ligaments, and an unfused dentocentral synchondrosis prior to eight years of age [4]. Most injuries to the cervical spinal cord and vertebral column can be managed nonoperatively with various external stabilization devices. Still, they may require operative management based on the stability of the injury [4,5]. The modern operative approach to these injuries depends on the site of injury and compression, patient age, size of bony elements, and surgeon experience [4]
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