Thoracic and lumbar spine injuries in children: different than in adults.

A study of 38 patients, ages birth through 17 years, is reported that was performed to identify patterns of thoracic and lumbar spine injuries and healing in children in order to make appropriate treatment recommendations and avoid unnecessary surgery. This retrospective/prospective study, which is the largest review of children's thoracic and lumbar spine injuries in the orthopaedic literature, supports several accepted concepts regarding children's spine fractures. In addition, the periosteal sleeve fracture mimicking lumbar dislocations in small children, which has not been reported previously in the clinical setting, is described. Thoracic and lumbar spine injuries in children have distinct differences from these injuries in adults, and the treatment should take these differences into consideration.