Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Electroretinogram Recording for Infants and Children under Anesthesia to Achieve Optimal Dark Adaptation and International Standards
08:38

Electroretinogram Recording for Infants and Children under Anesthesia to Achieve Optimal Dark Adaptation and International Standards

Published on: September 3, 2020

6.6K

Rigid Internal Fixation for Traumatic Cranio-Cervical Dissociation in Infants and Young Children

Joseph R Keen1, Robert E Ayer2, Asma Taha3

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Spine
|June 13, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Rigid occipito-cervical fixation safely stabilized pediatric traumatic craniocervical dissociation (tCCD), allowing some patients to regain motor function. This study supports rigid fixation in young children with tCCD.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • Spinal Surgery
  • Trauma Surgery

Background:

  • Traumatic craniocervical dissociation (tCCD) is a severe injury in children, with unique challenges for surgical stabilization.
  • Non-rigid fixation has been preferred in pediatric patients due to anatomical considerations, but outcomes with rigid fixation remain uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate radiographic and clinical outcomes in infants and children with tCCD treated with rigid occipito-cervical fixation.
  • To assess the safety and efficacy of rigid fixation in a pediatric population with traumatic craniocervical dissociation.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of pediatric patients (8 months to 8 years) who survived tCCD and underwent rigid occipito-cervical fixation between 2006 and 2016.
  • Analysis of radiographic stability (flexion-extension X-rays) and clinical outcomes, including motor function recovery.

Main Results:

  • Fifteen children with tCCD were treated with rigid posterior occipito-cervical fixation; 11 were passengers and 4 were pedestrians in motor vehicle accidents.
  • Seven patients presented with neurological deficits (quadriplegia, hemiparesis, or upper extremity paresis); four showed improved motor function post-operatively.
  • Fourteen patients achieved radiographic stability at a mean follow-up of 31 months, with no cases of deformity, growth disturbance, or subaxial instability.

Conclusions:

  • Rigid internal rod and screw fixation is a safe and effective method for achieving long-term stability in infants and young children with tCCD.
  • Children surviving tCCD can regain function following stabilization with rigid fixation.
  • C2 translaminar screws are recommended for pediatric occipito-cervical instrumentation due to favorable anatomy, minimizing associated risks.
Abstract

More Related Videos

How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children07:27

How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children

Published on: August 19, 2020

12.6K
Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism09:03

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

46.6K

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
312
Internal Energy02:00

Internal Energy

The total of all possible kinds of energy present in a substance is called the internal energy (U), sometimes symbolized as E. Suppose a system with initial internal energy, Uinitial, undergoes a change in energy (transfer of work or heat), and the final internal energy of the system is Ufinal. Change in internal energy equals the difference between Ufinal and Uinitial.
36.8K
Internal Receptors01:31

Internal Receptors

Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and therefore cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind to internal, or intracellular, receptors that reside within the cell. Many mammalian steroid hormones use this mechanism of cell signaling, as does nitric oxide (NO) gas.
74.7K
Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - I00:49

Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - I

A rigid body is said to be in static equilibrium when the net force and the net torque acting on the system is equal to zero. To solve for rigid body equilibrium problems, do the following steps.
5.5K
Dissociative Disorders01:27

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders represent complex psychological conditions characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. These disruptions cause individuals to experience a disconnection from their thoughts, emotions, and memories. The phenomenon is not merely an occasional lapse in attention but a profound alteration in mental functioning that can severely impact daily life.
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
605
Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II01:21

Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II

A rigid body is in static equilibrium when the net force and the net torque acting on the system are equal to zero.
Consider two children sitting on a seesaw, which has negligible mass. The first child has a mass (m1) of 26 kg and sits at point A, which is 1.6 meters (r1) from the pivot point B; the second child has a mass (m2) of 32 kg and sits at point C. How far from the pivot point B should the second child sit (r2) to balance the seesaw?
8.1K