Overview
The spinal cord is a bunch of nerves that can be found at the base of the spine. It is responsible for transmitting information from the brain to the rest of the body as well as carrying sensory information from the body's skin, bones, muscles, and organs back to the brain. Damage to the spinal cord can cause the nerve connections that connect the brain to the rest of the body to become severed. A traumatic event affecting a particular spinal cord region is the root cause of this injury. The severity might range from a light bruise to extensive tears in the spinal nerves.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury is damage to the compact bundle of cells and nerves in the spinal column, which is responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the other organs of the body. A direct injury to the spinal cord or damage to any of the tissue and bones (vertebrae) that surround and protect the spinal cord can result in a spinal cord injury.
How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Occur in Children?
Injuries to a newborn's spinal cord can occur either during or immediately after birth. These injuries are caused by blunt force trauma to the spine, which can be caused by delivery. The cause of this kind of trauma is frequently a mistake made by medical professionals. The degree of the injury might range from minor bruising to severe damage to the spinal cord. The majority of neonates who sustain injuries to their spinal cords will spend the rest of their lives suffering from disabilities and will require continuing medical treatment and care.
What Are the Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries in Neonates?
Based on the location of the injury alongside the vertebral column, spinal cord injuries are grouped into four types which are:
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Cervical Spine Injuries: Injuries occur to the uppermost part of the spine.
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Thoracic Spine Injuries: Injuries at the middle upper part of the spine.
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Lumbar Spine Injuries: Injuries in the spinal cord's lower back.
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Sacral Injuries: Injuries that occur at the base of the spinal cord.
According to the extent of the injuries, the spinal cord injuries can be:
Complete Spinal Cord Injuries: Even while the spinal cord can sometimes recover from a mild injury, severe damage to the spinal cord almost always results in permanent alterations to the sensory and motor function of the newborn. However, some treatments may help to manage the symptoms, reduce complications and improve the quality of life for children who have suffered a spinal cord injury. Unfortunately, medical science has not yet identified a means to undo the damage caused by a spinal cord injury. The type of spinal cord injuries accounts for less than 30 percent of all injuries. When the spinal cord is severed or crushed, the consequence is a complete spinal cord injury, which results in the loss of all movement and feeling below the affected area. This type of injury is life-threatening. There is still the possibility of making at least some progress toward recovery.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries: An incomplete spinal cord injury is when the spinal cord is damaged but can still transfer impulses below the injury site. Patients who suffer from spinal cord injuries that are just partially severe can retain some of their sensation and mobility. In less severe circumstances, they might even make a complete recovery.
What Are the Causes of a Spinal Cord Injury in Neonates?
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Medical negligence is a common cause of birth-related spinal cord injuries. If the umbilical cord is squeezed and the infant is unable to breathe, doctors may need to expedite a difficult birth. Damage to the baby's nerves may occur if the mother tries to speed up the birth process by tugging and twisting the infant too forcefully.
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The use of vacuums and forceps to rotate or extract a newborn from the delivery canal increases the risk of spinal cord injury. When handled improperly, these instruments can cause significant strain on the spinal cord and other nerves in the neck and back. Skull fractures are another possible outcome of improper tool use. These lead to brain hemorrhaging (bleeding in the brain) and spinal cord compression.
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And lastly, spina bifida may go undetected by doctors if they are not looking for it. Traditional delivery poses risks for a baby with spina bifida because the disorder generates openings in the spinal column that generally protects the spinal cord. The spinal cord could get pinched or torn because of these gaps.
What Are the Symptoms and Signs of a Spinal Cord Injury in a Baby?
In most cases, the spinal injury is diagnosed immediately after birth. In some cases, it is only evident after a few days following the delivery, and the symptoms appear. The most typical symptoms of a baby having a spinal injury are:
1. The baby seems floppy on picking up.
2. The baby does not show any or partial limb movement.
3. Abnormal reflexes in the baby.
4. Spasms.
5. Breathing difficulties.
6. Loss of bowel and bladder control.
7. Some babies may be stiff or have spasms which are the signs of cerebral palsy.
How Is a Spinal Cord Injury Diagnosed?
Spina bifida, a congenital disability affecting the spinal cord, is sometimes identified in the womb. Spina bifida can be detected with a simple blood test during pregnancy, allowing doctors to take precautions before delivery to avoid damaging the baby's spinal cord. After birth, if the infant exhibits signs of spinal cord damage, the doctor will do a thorough physical examination and order additional tests.
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X-Rays: Vertebral fractures can be a sign of spinal cord damage, and X-rays are useful for diagnosing this condition.
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Medical Procedures Using CT Scanners: If there are issues with the vertebrae, a CT scan will show them more clearly than an X-ray. CT scans, like X-rays, cannot provide direct evidence of nerve problems.
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MRI Scan: Spinal cord injuries are best diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging. Nerve compression, spinal tumors, and spinal cord abnormalities can all be detected by MRI.
How Are Spinal Cord Injuries Treated?
The treatment of spinal cord injuries involves a team of specialists involving trauma and emergency medical specialists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and neurologists, and physical therapists, respiratory professionals, and occupational therapists. The treatments for spinal cord injuries include:
1. Surgery: While no surgical operation can reverse or otherwise cure spinal cord damage, it can be advantageous in some cases by allowing doctors to:
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Fix any spinal fractures.
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Relieve pressure on the spinal cord, and treat any other injuries that happened concurrently with the SCI medication for spinal cord injury.
2. Therapy With Medications: Some drugs can be prescribed in case of spinal cord injuries to:
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Decreasing swelling in the region of the spinal cord injury.
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Managing pain.
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Coping with spasticity (involuntary muscle contractions).
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Increasing bladder and bowel control.
3. Breathing Aid: Spinal cord injuries of the neck in children might cause breathing problems. Ventilators provide oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the baby's lungs.
4. Bowel and Bladder Support: Some spinal injuries cause bowel and bladder incontinence. Urodynamic procedures can assess the baby's bladder control following the injury to know the problem.
5. Supportive Feeding: Chewing and swallowing can be difficult for a child who has suffered a severe spinal cord injury that impairs the muscles in the neck and throat. This puts the child at risk for malnutrition. To guarantee that the child consumes the necessary number of calories, a feeding tube may be inserted either directly into the stomach or from the nose down to the stomach.
6. Physical Support and Rehabilitative Care: Children who have suffered injuries to their spinal cords require various forms of rehabilitation, including physical therapy.
Conclusion
If the newborn had injuries to the spinal cord at the time of delivery, parents must adhere to all of the treatment recommendations made by the physician. The infant has a better chance of recovering from the injury and regaining some function if they receive prompt medical attention and follow-up care after the trauma. Children born with disabilities, no matter how severe, can learn to live fulfilling lives with the help of caring adults. Recent medical advances have allowed many people with spinal cord injuries to regain some motion and sensation in their bodies.
