Occult spinal cord injury in traumatized children

J Ferguson1, T F Beattie

  • 1Accident and Emergency Unit, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, UK.

Injury
|February 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Severe spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality (SCIWORA) can occur in children, even without physical signs. Standard adult spinal immobilization protocols are unsuitable for children, necessitating full immobilization for unconscious children until neurological assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Traumatology
  • Neurology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality (SCIWORA) is a recognized condition.
  • Severe neurological deficits can occur in children with SCIWORA.
  • This condition may present without apparent physical or radiological indicators.