Imaging in paediatric spinal injury

Abstract

Background Paediatric spinal injury is rare and exhibits many unique features. Attending clinicians and radiologists often lack knowledge, expertise and experience in dealing with a potential injury to the paediatric spine. Within the paediatric age range itself there are different age-dependent mechanisms that can injure the paediatric spine. Moreover, the anatomical features and degree of osseous maturity of the developing paediatric spine determine the biomechanical characteristics which promote unique patterns of spinal injury in each paediatric age group. Methods An expert illustrated narrative review of the literature. Results Multiple factors make the imaging interpretation of the injured paediatric spine challenging. Each imaging modality has strengths and weaknesses in depicting spinal anatomy which vary with the type of spinal injury and age of the paediatric patient. Conclusions Attending doctors need to be familiar with the imaging appearances of the normal paediatric spine, its normal variants as well as the imaging features characteristics of paediatric spinal injury seen on radiographs, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.