Late effects
In the case of a cervical spine fracture in children, a good diagnosis should be made immediately to safely visualize the fracture and initiate immediate therapy. In case of neurological involvement, rapid therapy is necessary. The healing of nerve tissue in children is usually even better than in adults, but a prognosis is still difficult to make.
As a rule, severe trauma is necessary in children, as the spine is even softer and more flexible, so that fractures occur less frequently. Mechanisms that can lead to a fracture of the cervical spine are, for example, jumps into shallow waters, rear-end collisions or direct falls. In complicated births, injuries to the newborn’s cervical spine may occur, but the soft bone structure also protects the newborn. Nerve injuries or the fracture of the collarbone are more common.
Fracture of the spinous process
In the cervical spine the spinous processes are quite prominent. Especially at the 7th cervical vertebra (7. prominence) the spinous processes protrude far backwards. If you fall on your back, the spinous process may break.
If only a fragment of the spinous process breaks off, it is usually painful but can be treated conservatively. The cervical spine is then immobilized with a neck brace and the vertebra can heal. The spinous process is affected by autochthonous muscles as well as large skeletal muscles.
If several spinous processes break, there can be a considerable loss of stability. In this case, the spinous processes are surgically fixed. This is followed by immobilization and subsequent physiotherapy.
Summary
Cervical spine fractures are caused by a severe trauma and can be divided into different classes. The classification into stable and unstable fractures is important. There is always a surgical indication for spinal cord injuries.
It is an acute emergency. It can lead to paraplegia or death. In the therapy, the course of healing is followed.
At the beginning, pain relief, immobilization and promotion of healing by stimulating the metabolism is necessary. Circulatory training and respiratory therapy may also be necessary if long-term immobilization exists. Accompanying injuries such as cranial brain trauma are common and must be taken into account in therapy.
In the later course, the posture and above all the stability of the spine is trained by the autochthonous musculature through force-expressive but coordinatively demanding exercises. A cervical spine fracture can have various late effects. Orthopedically, cervical osteoarthritis or compensatory instabilities with subsequent back pain in other spinal column sections should be mentioned here.
Late neurological consequences can range from paralysis or sensitivity disorders to full paraplegia. In children, accurate diagnosis is important. As a rule, however, the spinal column is still quite flexible and breaks less frequently.
A severe trauma is necessary. Due to the prominence of the spinous processes, the cervical spine is predestined for spinous process fractures, which, however, can usually be treated conservatively.
