Description
This VTT captures a presentation by Neil Davidson, a consultant spinal surgeon, on spinal problems in pediatric athletes, with a focus on cervical and thoracic injuries. Davidson highlights the increasing incidence of these injuries among teenagers due to more demanding sports, particularly in the 8 to 15-year age group.
The presentation details different age groups affected by spinal injuries, emphasizing that those under two typically experience high axial injuries from road traffic collisions, and the 2-7 age group has injuries often related to pedestrian accidents.
Davidson discusses the biomechanics of the cervical spine, explaining how factors like a high center of gravity in children predispose them to injuries. He outlines relevant NICE guidelines for assessing cervical spine injuries, describing symptoms and red flags that require imaging, emphasizing that practitioners must be vigilant due to the potential for missed injuries with standard X-rays and CT scans.
He provides case studies, illustrating the complexities of cervical injuries from trampoline and mountain biking accidents, demonstrating the importance of careful assessment and the role of imaging in diagnosis and treatment planning.
The talk concludes with a summary of the importance of suspicion in diagnosing cervical and thoracic injuries in children, especially during high-energy sporting activities, and the necessity to rule out associated injuries to other organs, particularly in cases of thoracic injuries.