Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury without Radiographic Abnormality: The Beijing Experience.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of pediatric patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) in mainland China for the first time.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

SCIWORA is a syndrome that often occurs in children mainly due to the unique biomechanics of the pediatric spine. Although there have been numerous retrospective studies on pediatric SCIWORA, and mainland China has more patients with SCI than anywhere else, pediatric patients with SCIWORA in mainland China has not been described in any study.

METHODS

Review of all cases with SCIWORA at Beijing Children's Hospital between July 2007 and December 2019.

RESULTS

Of the 189 pediatric patients with SCI 140 had SCIWORA (age: 5.65 ± 2.60 years, male-to-female ratio: 2:5). Main causes of injuries were sports (41%, mostly backbend), falls (27%), traffic accidents (10%), and violence (8%). Lesions were located at the thoracic (77%), cervical (10%), multiple (5%), and lumbar (4%) levels. Incubation period was 2 ± 6 hours. Pathological characteristics of SCI were detected in 96% patients by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Based on the American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale (AIS), many patients had complete impairment (50% AIS A, 45% AIS B/C/D, 1% AIS E). Particularly, the five patients with normal MRI tended to have mild injury (AIS D) (P < 0.001), but they still showed abnormal reflex. In the one patient who could not be graded at all by AIS, his only functional deficits were abnormal upper and lower limb muscle tones. A total of 59% patients were treated with methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, or both. Out of 76 patients 59 showed neurological improvement before discharge. The only association among age, cause of injury, level of lesion, incubation period, AIS grade, type of corticosteroid therapy, and neurological improvement was between level of lesion and AIS grade (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Demographic and clinical differences exist in patients with SCIWORA. MRI and detailed neurological examinations should both be performed for proper diagnosis. There is still a need to develop better treatment strategy for these patients.Level of Evidence: 4.