Perioperative Management of Pediatric Spine Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that leads to substantial complications. Although relatively less common, spinal injuries in pediatric patients are associated with higher mortality and morbidity as compared to adults. The anatomy and biomechanical properties of the pediatric spine are different from adults, and this makes it a different entity from adult spinal injuries. The distribution of spinal injuries across various spinal segments is also different in pediatric patients compared to adults. Children are particularly prone to cervical spine injuries, and they account for 60–80% of all pediatric spinal injuries. Moreover, spinal injury is more likely to be associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children resulting in poorer outcomes than adults. Thus, it is important to have a high degree of suspicion for prompt diagnosis and early management for better functional recovery.