@article{ref1,
title="A retrospective case series of pediatric spinal cord injury and disease in Victoria, Australia",
journal="Spine",
year="2013",
author="Galvin, Jane and Scheinberg, Adam and New, Peter",
volume="38",
number="14",
pages="E878-82",
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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0362-2436",
doi="10.1097/BRS.0b013e318294e839",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e318294e839"
}