Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
A Novel Vertebral Stabilization Method for Producing Contusive Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: January 5, 2015
Spinal Injury in Indian Children: Review of 204 Cases
M L Bansal1, Rajesh Sharawat1, Rajat Mahajan1
176434Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Pediatric spinal cord injuries are most common in older boys due to falls. Cervical spine injuries and burst fractures predominated, with a low mortality rate and some neurological improvement observed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Spinal Cord Injury Epidemiology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) in children presents unique epidemiological challenges.
- Understanding injury patterns is crucial for effective prevention and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze epidemiological parameters and associated factors of pediatric SCI over 14 years.
- To identify trends in incidence, injury type, and level in children admitted to a tertiary care center.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of demographic and injury data from 2002-2015.
- Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis using chi-square and Fisher exact tests across age groups.
Main Results:
- 204 pediatric spine injuries identified among 1660 trauma cases.
- Higher incidence in adolescents (15-18 years) and males (3:1 ratio).
- Falls from height were the most common cause; burst fractures were prevalent.
Conclusions:
- Cervical spine injuries and multilevel involvement are common.
- Spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality (SCIWORA) incidence aligns with literature.
- Low mortality and observed neurological improvement in treated cases.
Study Design:
Retrospective study.
Objective:
The purpose of the study was to analyze the epidemiological parameters and associated factors after spinal cord injury (SCI) in children, in the last 14 years admitted at a tertiary care center (Indian Spinal Injury Centre [ISIC], New Delhi, India).
Method:
The demographic and injury-related data was analyzed descriptively. The incidence, type, and level of injury were compared across the age groups using a χ2 test. Wherever appropriate, Fisher exact test was used.
Results:
There were 1660 pediatric trauma cases admitted at ISIC from 2002 to 2015, where 204 cases presented with spine injuries. The average age of children sustaining spine injury was 15.69 years (3-18 years of range). There were 15 patients in the age group 0 to 9 years, 27 patients in the age group 10 to 14 years, and 162 patients in the age group 15 to 18 years. This difference in spine injury incidence among the age groups was statistically significant. Fall from height was a common mode of injury. In our sample, boys were 3 times more likely to be injured than girls. Burst fractures were common among the type of injuries.
Conclusion:
Our study confirms the predominance of cervical spine injury and the high incidence of multilevel contiguous with a lesser percentage of noncontiguous multilevel spinal involvement. SCIWORA (spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality) incidences were in a similar context to the literature available. There was a very low incidence of death. Neurological improvement was seen in 8 operated cases and 4 conservatively treated cases.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology
01:25Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology