incidence of cervical spine injuries in paediatric patients and their outcome in tertiary care hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36552/pjns.v27i4.917Abstract
Objective: The incidence of mortality after cervical trauma in the pediatric population is very high. The purpose of this study was to determine the treatment given, morbidity and mortality of patients with cervical spine injuries, and their outcome after 6 months of management which includes both surgical and conservative treatment.
Materials & Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar with a total number of patients n = 187 included in our study. Patients were stratified according to their age, mortality, mechanism of injury (fall, motor vehicle accident, bicycle injuries, &sports-related injuries), level of cervical spine injury, presence of neurologic deficit, presence of bony injury (fractures, &dislocations), ligamentous injuries & SCIWORA. The primary outcome was the functional status at 6 months following treatment.
Results: There were 78 females and 109 males. In comparison to the lower cervical spine (C3 – C7), which was involved in 86 patients (46%), the higher cervical spine level (C0 – C2) was involved in 101 patients (or 54%). The most frequent cause of cervical spine injuries in the older age range was a history of a fall, followed by a motor vehicle accident. Among the treatment groups, mortality was highest in patients who underwent surgery.
Conclusion: Younger age groups, higher cervical spine levels, and mechanisms of injury such as high energy impact trauma were independent risk factors for increased mortality. Compared to incomplete neurological abnormalities, a complete neurological disability increases mortality.
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