Spinal cord injuries in young children: a review of children injured at 5 years of age and younger.

AIM: To determine the epidemiology and complications of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in children injured at 5 years of age and younger who were seen between 1981 and 2008 at a children's hospital in the USA.

METHOD: Complications studied were scoliosis, hip dysplasia, latex allergies, autonomic dysreflexia, pressure ulcers, spasticity, deep venous thrombosis, and kidney stones. Demographic and injury-related factors included age at injury, etiology, level of injury, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), and SCIs without radiological abnormalities (SCIWORA).

RESULTS

Of the 159 individuals seen (92 males, 67 females) median age at injury was 2 years (range 0 y-5 y 11 mo). Forty-nine percent were injured in vehicular accidents, 60% had complete injuries, 66% had paraplegia, and 72% had SCIWORA. Ninety-six percent developed scoliosis, 57% had hip dysplasia, and 7% had latex allergy. Thirty-four percent with injuries at or above T6 experienced autonomic dysreflexia, 41% developed pressure ulcers, and 61% experienced spasticity. Of those without bowel or bladder control, 82% were on intermittent catheterization and 69% were on a bowel program. Median age of initiating wheelchair use was 3 years 4 months (range 1 y 2 mo-12 y 5 mo). Twenty-four were community ambulators, and they were more likely to have AIS D lesions (half the key muscle functions below the level of injury have a muscle grade 3 or greater) and less likely to have skeletal complications.

INTERPRETATION: The epidemiology, complications, and manifestations of SCIs in children injured at a young age are unique and differ distinctively from adolescent and adult-onset SCIs.