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Trunk and leg growth in children with paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury
Insights
Children with spinal cord injuries experience significant growth defects, particularly in limbs below the injury site. Lower and earlier onset of paralysis correlate with more severe growth impairments in young paraplegics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Biology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Lesions of the peripheral nervous system can impact child development.
- Retarded growth is a documented concern in pediatric neurological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze anthropometric data in young paraplegics with spinal cord injuries.
- To quantify growth defects associated with the level and onset of paralysis.
Main Methods:
- Semi-longitudinal analysis of anthropometric values.
- Review of clinical and experimental data on pediatric peripheral nervous system lesions.
Main Results:
- Children with spinal cord injuries exhibit an average growth defect of two standard deviations.
- Growth defects are localized to the body segments distal to the neurological lesion.
- Lower spinal cord lesion levels and earlier onset of paralysis result in greater growth defects.
Conclusions:
- Spinal cord injuries significantly impair growth in children, affecting areas distal to the lesion.
- The severity of growth defects is dependent on the level and timing of the spinal cord injury.
Abstract:
After a survey of the bibliography on the subject of clinical and experimental data on retarded growth in children affected by lesions of the peripheral nervous system, the authors present a semi-longitudinal analysis of the anthropometric values obtained by spinal cord section in the case of young paraplegics. By this means, they demonstrate an average growth defect of the order of two standard deviations which only affects the body distal to the neurological lesion in cervical or dorsal injuries. The lower the level of the cord lesion and the earlier the paralysis the greater the growth defects.