Pediatrics Research

KEY FINDING: The evidence for pediatric-onset SCI rehabilitation/habilitation is extremely limited; nearly all studies (98%) are level 4-5 evidence.

KEY FINDING: Parents/caregivers of 2- to 12-year-olds prioritized walking ability, spasms, and pain as top health research priorities, and physical function, home support services, and healthcare access as top life research priorities.

KEY FINDING: A significant positive association was found between fractional anisotropy (FA) and upper extremity muscle strength in participants with SCI, indicating that higher muscle strength is associated with higher FA values.

KEY FINDING: Sports injuries were the primary cause of trauma (66.3%), with the thoracic spinal cord being the most frequently affected area (91.9%), and complete SCIs were predominant (76.7%).

KEY FINDING: Service providers recognized the increased challenges faced by families during the pandemic, including feelings of isolation and the exacerbation of injury-related difficulties.

KEY FINDING: Early diagnosis of SB during pregnancy allows for various management options, including in-utero surgical repair, which has shown benefits such as reduced need for shunting and improved lower extremity function, although it carries risks like premature labor.

KEY FINDING: Backbend during dance was the main cause of spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation in the studied population.

KEY FINDING: Posterior open reduction with pedicle screw and lateral mass screw internal fixation can achieve satisfactory results in treating cervical fracture and dislocation with unilateral facet lock.

KEY FINDING: Training that utilizes current technology and changes in the environment that are appropriate for daily life are important for improving the ADL of children with severe CSCI.

KEY FINDING: Almost half of the children and adolescents with spina bifida reported being at risk for poor psychosocial functioning based on their health-related quality of life.