Cervical lesions in children

Children under 8 years of age are particularly at risk of cervical spine injuries, potentially linked to serious complications. In this retrospective, monocentric study, 502 patients under 16 years of age were screened, and 202 met the study's inclusion criteria (signs of bone or ligament injury of the occiput at C2). Of these, 15% had atlanto-occipital joint distractions, 5% atlanto-axial joint distractions, 15% C1-C2 fractures and 64% ligamentous lesions without joint distraction. Of the 31 patients with atlanto-occipital joint distractions, 15 had complete dislocation, were hemodynamically unstable and 14 died. The remaining 16 had subluxation, were stable and survived with good outcome.