Abstract
Compressive myelopathy is a common presentation of the adult age group secondary to degenerating etiologies. Trauma is a rare cause of compressive myelopathy, especially in the pediatric age group as the pediatric spine is more elastic than that of adults, especially below 8 years of age. Boys are more commonly injured as compared to girls. The present study reports a case of a six-year-old female patient of compressive myelopathy presenting with jerks with progressive paraparesis. MRI shows posterior subluxation of dens (C2) attached to C2 vertebral effacing anterior – subarachnoid space and indenting spinal cord.
Highlights
About 1-5% of all spinal injuries occur in children [1,2,3,4,5,6]
The present study reports a case of a six-year-old female patient of compressive myelopathy presenting with jerks with progressive paraparesis
The pediatric spine is more elastic than that of adults especially below 8 years of age [10] and it has been shown in neonates that the vertebral column could stretch by 2 inches without disruption whereas the spinal cord could only stretch by 0.25 inches [11]
Summary
About 1-5% of all spinal injuries occur in children [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Children below 8 years old have a relatively large and heavy head compared to the body which shifts the fulcrum of movement to the upper cervical spine (occiput to C2) making it more vulnerable to injury [7]. Explains the epidemiological finding that the majority of spinal injuries occur between C0 and C2 in young children whereas older children, like adults, have their injuries more commonly in the sub axial cervical spine [9]. The pediatric spine is more elastic than that of adults especially below 8 years of age [10] and it has been shown in neonates that the vertebral column could stretch by 2 inches without disruption whereas the spinal cord could only stretch by 0.25 inches [11].
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