Conservative treatment and outcome of upper cervical spine fractures in young children: A STROBE-compliant case series

Abstract

Cervical spine (C-spine) fractures in young children are very rare, and little information on treatment modalities and functional, radiographic, and patient-reported outcome exists. In this 2-center, retrospective case series, we assessed subjective and functional mid-Term outcomes in children aged ≤5years whose C-spine fractures were treated nonoperatively.Between 2000 and 2018, 6 children (median age at injury: 23.5months; range: 16-31months) with C1 or C2 injuries were treated with Minerva cast/brace or soft collar brace at 1 of the 2 study centers. Two patients suffered C1 fractures, and 4 patients had lysis of the odontoid synchondrosis. Overall, 3 children had sustained polytrauma. One..