Citation

Galvin J, Scheinberg A, New P. Spine 2013; 38(14): E878-82.

Affiliation

1Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2School of Occupational Therapy, Latrobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 4Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 5Spinal Rehabilitation Unit, Caulfield Hospital, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 6Principal Researcher, Epworth-Monash Rehabilitation Unit, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/BRS.0b013e318294e839

PMID

23574815

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective case seriesObjective: This study aimed to describe the incidence and etiology of pediatric SCD at The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH).Summary of Background Data: Spinal Cord Disease (SCD) is rare in children, but those who sustain SCD typically require significant ongoing resources to optimize long term outcomes. The incidence of pediatric SCD has been reported in Europe, North America, and South America, however no previous reports are available for Australia.Methods: A retrospective case series of consecutive admissions with SCD was identified using the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10edition, Australian Modification diagnostic codes relating to initial onset SCD for both traumatic and non-traumatic conditions. Potential cases admitted to RCH between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2010 were identified and the RCH Trauma Registry was cross checked to improve accuracy of case attainment.Results: One hundred and three patients were admitted over the study period. Most patients (n = 68, 66%) had a non-traumatic SCD and were male (n = 68, 66%).Of the sixty-eight patients who sustained non-traumatic spinal injuries, the majority (n = 40, 59%) were a result of neoplasm, or transverse myelitis (n = 15, 22%) or other diseases of the spinal cord (n = 12, 18%). Thirty-five children were admitted following traumatic injury, over half of these (n = 19, 54%) were involved in motor vehicle accidents followed by sporting injuries (n = 8, 23%), falls from height (n = 7, 20%) and assault (n = 1, 3%). The average incidence of traumatic SCD and non-traumatic SCD over the study period was estimated at 3.8 and 6.5 per million children less than 15 years of age respectively.Conclusions: The incidence of paediatric SCD at RCH is lower than reports from Europe and the USA, but may be comparable on a population basis. The incidence of non-traumatic paediatric SCD is approximately double that of traumatic SCD.

Language: en