Pediatric Traumatic Cervical Distraction Injury: A Case Report

This case report describes the surgical management of a cervical spinal cord injury in a one-year-old child who experienced quadriplegia as a result of a traffic accident. The child sustained vertical distraction injuries at C6/7, as well as spinal cord injuries at C1/2. The report details the surgical procedure, which involved using Nespron tape and an autologous iliac bone graft to achieve bone fusion. The patient initially presented with quadriplegia and loss of consciousness. After initial stabilization and a period of halo vest immobilization, surgical intervention was pursued due to worsening alignment. Post-surgery, bone fusion was achieved, but tetraplegia had not improved at the 18-month follow-up. The authors emphasize the rarity of cervical spine injuries in young children and the challenges in their management, particularly the avoidance of growth disturbances. They highlight the importance of preventative measures, such as proper child car seat use, to minimize the risk of such injuries.

• 1
  A one-year-old child with a C6/7 vertical distraction injury and C1/2 spinal cord injury was surgically treated using Nespron tape and an autologous iliac bone graft.
• 2
  Bone fusion was achieved six months after surgery, but tetraplegia did not improve at the one-year and six-month follow-up.
• 3
  Radiographs showed no growth disturbances despite residual alignment abnormalities one year and six months postoperatively.