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Researchers examined characteristics of pediatric cervical spine injuries in a secondary analysis of children younger than 16 years treated at 17 pediatric hospitals in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN).
Of 540 children, 21% required surgical fixation, and 7% died. In children aged <7 years, motor vehicle collision (MVC) was the most common mechanism of injury, and about 75% of injuries were in the axial region (C1-2). In children 8 to 15 years old, MVCs and sports injuries each accounted for 23% of injuries; 47% of injuries were axial.
Poor outcomes (death or persistent neurologic deficits) were associated with substantial injuries to the head or body. Persistent neurologic deficit occurred in 37% of children age…