Related Experiment Videos
Hip instability in spinal cord injury patients
Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics
|September 1, 1990
Summary
Spinal cord injuries in children often lead to hip dysplasia, with 82% developing hip subluxation or dislocation. Despite initial concerns, most patients had no long-term hip problems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) in children can significantly impact musculoskeletal development.
- Understanding long-term orthopedic complications is crucial for managing pediatric SCI.
Observation:
- A cohort of 17 children with pre-pubertal SCI was followed for an average of 13.2 years.
- Hip subluxation or dislocation was observed in 82% of patients.
- Pelvic obliquity was noted in both spastic and flaccid SCI types.
Findings:
- Spastic SCI led to hip flexion/adduction contractures, mimicking cerebral palsy.
- Flaccid SCI resulted in "flail" hips, similar to myelomeningocele.
- Avascular necrosis was suspected in three patients; only one reported pain.
Implications:
- Early-onset SCI poses a high risk for hip dysplasia and related deformities.
- While common, hip complications in pediatric SCI may not result in significant long-term functional issues.
- This highlights the need for vigilant orthopedic monitoring in pediatric SCI survivors.