Open AccessFive cases of paediatric cervical spine distraction injury
Author(s) -
Savvas Andronikou,
S Dix-Peek,
D. V. Meerkotter
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
sa journal of radiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.18
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2078-6778
pISSN - 1027-202X
DOI - 10.4102/sajr.v4i4.1514
Subject(s) - medicine , distraction , cervical spine , cervical spine injury , cervical vertebrae , tetraplegia , surgery , spinal cord injury , spinal cord , neuroscience , psychiatry , biology
Cervical spine distraction injury was considered rare in children, but current literature claims that atlanto-occipital distraction is a major contributor to paediatric trauma mortality. Lower cervical spine distraction is considered rare and usually results in quadriplegia. Three cases of atlanto-occipital distraction are presented here, supporting these claims. The two cases of lower cervical spine distraction are presented as good examples of a rare injury that is sustained in the same manner as atlanto-occipital distraction, but may result in survival of the patient with quadriplegia.