Surgical management of severely displaced pediatric seat-belt fracture-dislocations of the lumbar spine associated with occlusion of the abdominal aorta and avulsion of the cauda equina: a report of two cases.

STUDY DESIGN

Case report.

OBJECTIVE

To present 2 cases of fracture-dislocations of the lumbar spine associated with injury to the aorta and avulsion of the cauda equina and present recommendations regarding urgent management of these injuries.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The "seat-belt syndrome" was first described by Garrett and Braunstein in 1962 to describe intraabdominal visceral injuries with fractures of the lumbar spine. Although this syndrome has been described in previously, there have been no reported cases of pediatric patients with significant injury to the abdominal aorta.

METHODS

We present 2 seat-belt injuries occurring within a 4 month period at a pediatric trauma center with significantly displaced lumbar fracture-dislocation, abdominal aortic occlusion, and complete neurologic injury.

RESULTS

Rigid fixation of the spinal fracture dislocation in both cases was delayed since these patients were deemed to be hemodynamically unstable. Aggressive mobilization, wound care, and pulmonary toilet were possible after stabilization of the spine. Despite this, 1 patient eventually died.

CONCLUSION

These cases need to be managed according to principles established in the treatment of extremity fractures with vascular and neurologic injuries. That is, early rigid fixation of the fracture to protect the vascular repair.