The utility of magnetic resonance imaging in pediatric trauma patients suspected of having cervical spine injuries

Pediatric cervical spine clearance after blunt trauma and negative CT: What is the role of MRI?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The cervical spine in children has marked anatomical and biomechanical differences compared to adults, leading to significantly different patterns and incidence of spinal injury, and consequently to different X-ray and computed tomography (CT) imaging recommendations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been validated to clear cervical spine trauma in adults, but not in pediatric patients. We hypothesized that MRI findings have a low probability to change management in children with spine trauma and negative CT findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed records for admitted pediatric patients due to blunt trauma from January 2011 to May 2021, and identified 212 patients who underwent MRI within 3 days of a negative CT. Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed all CT and MRI images for the following categories: fracture, subluxation, spinal canal compromise, ligamentous injury, spinal canal hemorrhage, cord contusion and soft tissue hemorrhage. We identified follow-up MRI examinations as negative or positive for the above categories, and calculated the prevalence of each category as a percentage of cases with negative CT. We also evaluated whether negative and positive MRI groups differed significantly with respect to age and sex of the patients.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

In our study of 212 children with cervical spine trauma and a negative CT, most follow-up MRI scans were found to be negative (79.9 %). Positive MRI findings consisted mainly of ligamentous sprain without disruption (15.1 %). Ligamentous disruption and epidural or soft tissue hemorrhage were found in 4.5 %, and focal cord contusion in 0.5 %. There was no statically significant difference between negative and positive MRI groups with respect to age (P = 0.45) and sex (P = 0.52).

CONCLUSION

In our patient group with a negative CT, MRI did not significantly impact management nor contribute to cervical spine clearance in children.

Outcomes of Follow-up Imaging After Pediatric Spinal Trauma Confirmed With Magnetic Resonance Imaging

BACKGROUND

Imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnostic workup of pediatric spinal trauma. Computed tomography and conventional radiographs are widely used as the primary imaging methods. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a radiation-free alternative with high sensitivity for bony and soft tissue injuries. There is no consensus on the optimal use of follow-up imaging in pediatric spinal trauma without immediate surgical treatment, especially if the injury is primarily confirmed with MRI. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of follow-up imaging after MRI-confirmed spinal trauma in children.

METHODS

The medical records and the imaging data of children and adolescents with emergency spinal MRI and follow-up imaging over 8 years were retrospectively reviewed. The primary study outcome was the outcome of follow-up imaging and its effect on management.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 127 patients. The follow-up imaging did not alter the management in any patient with presumably stable injury in emergency MRI. Short-term follow-up imaging showed no clinically significant progression in thoracolumbar compression fractures. Flexion-extension radiographs had no additional value in cases with stable cervical spinal injury on emergency MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical utility of short-term follow-up imaging is low in children with stable spinal injury on emergency MRI.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III-retrospective observational study.

Intraoperative neural monitoring during head and neck surgery in patients with concern for cervical spine instability

Cervical and craniocervical instability are associated with catastrophic procedural outcomes. We discuss three individuals who required otolaryngologic surgical intervention: two with symptomatic spinal instability and one in whom spinal stability was unable to be assessed. Two cases were managed with procedural positioning precautions and evoked potential monitoring, and the other with procedural positioning precautions alone. Methods of monitoring and triggers for repositioning are discussed. This series is intended to discuss the approach and potential added value of evoked potential monitoring for risk mitigation in pediatric patients with concern for cervical spine instability.

Clinical outcome following magnetic resonance imaging as first-line imaging in low-impact pediatric spine trauma: a single-center retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Pediatric spinal trauma is rare, but the consequences of a missed injury can be devastating. Medical imaging is often needed in addition to physical examination. Conventional radiographs are widely recommended, but their negative predictive value is limited. Computed tomography (CT) is more sensitive but has a higher radiation dose. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has superior soft tissue contrast and lacks ionizing radiation, but it is more expensive and time-consuming. Thus, the debate regarding the most suitable imaging method is still ongoing.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the ability of MRI to exclude injuries requiring surgical treatment as a first-line imaging method in low-impact pediatric spine trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and imaging data of children (under 18 years old) who had suspected spinal trauma and were scanned using MRI in our emergency radiology department over a period of 8 years. We assessed the ability of MRI to detect unstable injuries by searching for later occurrences of primarily missed injuries requiring surgery.

RESULTS

Of 396 patients (median age 12 years, range 0-17), 114 (29%) had MRI findings suggesting an acute injury. Bony injuries were detected in 78 patients (20%) and ligamentous or other soft tissue injuries in 82 patients (21%). In the subgroup of 376 patients (median age 12 years, range 0-17) with at least 6 months of clinical follow-up, no missed injuries demanding surgical intervention or immobilization occurred after spinal MRI as  first-line imaging. No adverse events related to MRI or anesthesia occurred.

CONCLUSION

MRI can detect injuries requiring surgical treatment as a first-line imaging method in suspected low-impact pediatric spinal trauma and is safe to use in this selected population.

Pediatric cervical spine clearance: A 10-year evaluation of multidetector computed tomography at a level 1 pediatric trauma center

INTRODUCTION

Efficient and accurate evaluation of the pediatric cervical spine (c-spine) for both injury identification and posttraumatic clearance remains a challenge. We aimed to determine the sensitivity of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for identification of cervical spine injuries (CSIs) in pediatric blunt trauma patients.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a level 1 pediatric trauma center from 2012 to 2021. All pediatric trauma patients age younger than 18 years who underwent c-spine imaging (plain radiograph, MDCT, and/or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) were included. All patients with abnormal MRIs but normal MDCTs were reviewed by a pediatric spine surgeon to assess specific injury characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 4,477 patients underwent c-spine imaging, and 60 (1.3%) were diagnosed with a clinically significant CSI that required surgery or a halo. These patients were older, more likely to be intubated, have a Glasgow Coma Scale score of <14, and more likely to be transferred in from a referring hospital. One patient with a fracture on radiography and neurologic symptoms got an MRI and no MDCT before operative repair. All other patients who underwent surgery including halo placement for a clinically significant CSI had their injury diagnosed by MDCT, representing a sensitivity of 100%. There were 17 patients with abnormal MRIs and normal MDCTs; none underwent surgery or halo placement. Imaging from these patients was reviewed by a pediatric spine surgeon, and no unstable injuries were identified.

CONCLUSION

Multidetector computed tomography appears to have 100% sensitivity for detecting clinically significant CSIs in pediatric trauma patients, regardless of age or mental status. Forthcoming prospective data will be useful to confirm these results and inform recommendations for whether pediatric c-spine clearance can be safely performed based on the results of a normal MDCT alone.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Diagnostic Tests or Criteria; Level IV.

C1-C2 Distraction Ligamentous Injury Treated with Halo-Vest Application: A Case Report

CASE

There is a paucity of literature regarding pediatric upper cervical spine traumatic instability, atlanto-occipital dislocations, and fractures, with no clear treatment algorithm. We present a 12-year-old girl with significant posterior C1-C2 distraction and resultant ligamentous injury after a motor vehicle collision who was treated with a halo vest for 3 months. At 8-month follow-up, follow-up magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated complete ligamentous healing without instability on dynamic radiographs, and at 18-month follow-up, the patient made a full recovery.

CONCLUSION

In some pediatric patients with isolated posterior ligamentous injury, as long as anatomic alignment can be achieved with halo-vest application, a fusion may be avoided.

Patterns of pediatric cervical spine fractures in association with mandibular and facial fractures

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence, demographics, and outcomes of concurrent cervical spine (C-spine) fractures in pediatric facial trauma.

METHODS

The Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) from the 2016 Healthcare Cost Utilization Project (HCUP) was queried for various facial fractures using International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnosis codes. Mandible fractures were further subdivided into fracture site. Patients aged 0-18 were included, and rates of C-spine fracture were analyzed with regards to demographic factors, length of stay, total charges, mortality rate, hospital characteristics, and concurrent facial fractures.

RESULTS

Of 5568 patients included, 4.18% presented with C-spine fracture. Children with C-spine fractures were significantly older (15.02 vs 12.76 years, p < 0.001) and length of stay was significantly longer (11.33 vs 6.44 days, p < 0.001). There was no difference in rate of C-spine fracture when stratified by gender, time of week/year, hospital location/type, or facial fracture other than subcondylar fractures. Subcondylar fractures were positively associated with C-spine fractures (OR 2.08, p = 0.002). C-spine fractures were associated with significantly higher mortality, length of stay, rate of tracheostomy, transfer out of index hospital, and total hospital charges.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant association exists between subcondylar mandible and C-spine fractures. Awareness of this information is vital for clinicians who manage pediatric facial trauma and alerts them to the need to rule out C-spine fractures in this group as these patients have significantly higher lengths of stay, total mean hospital costs, mortality and tracheostomy rates.

Have changes in computerised tomography guidance positively impacted detection of cervical spine injury in children? A review of the Trauma Audit and Research Network data

Background

Clinically significant damage to the cervical spine in children is uncommon, but missing this can be life-changing for patients. The balance between rarity and severity leads to inconsistent scanning, with both resource and radiation implications. In 2014, the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated their computerised tomography neck imaging guidance in children. The aim of this study was to assess if the change in guidance had resulted in a change in diagnosis or imaging rates.

Methods

A retrospective review of the national Trauma Audit and Research Network’s data for computerised tomography spine imaging in children in 2012–2013 was compared to the same data sample collected in 2015–2016.

Results

The percentage of children presenting with neck trauma who were imaged reduced from 15.5 to 14.1% with an increase in confirmed cervical spine injury from 1.6 to 2.3% between the two time periods. The specificity of computerised tomography scanning increased from 10 to 16.4%. There was variation in scan rates, with major trauma centres scanning a greater percentage of children of all ages and with all injury scores, than trauma units.

Discussion

This study suggests national guidance can impact clinical care in a relatively short timeframe. Variation in how guidance is applied, with major trauma centres scanning proportionately more children with a lower yield, could be because scanning is more readily available, or because trauma protocols encourage more scans. Twenty per cent of injuries were not found on the initial computerised tomography, in keeping with previously reported data, because the injuries were ligamentous or cord contusion. This suggests a role for early magnetic resonance imaging in children with suspected spinal injury.

Imaging of pediatric cervical spine trauma

While pediatric cervical spine injuries (CSI) are rare, they are associated with high morbidity and mortality and sometimes require expeditious surgical management. In this article, we aim to improve the diagnostic accuracy of pediatric CSI by reviewing normal pediatric cervical anatomy, typical pediatric CSI patterns, and common mimics of pediatric CSI. A literature review was conducted on pediatric CSI, its epidemiology, and the various imaging manifestations and mimics. The most common pediatric CSI occur in the upper cervical spine owing to the higher fulcrum and larger head at a young age, namely prior to age 9 years, while lower CSI occur more frequently in patients older than 9 years. While various craniocervical measurements may be utilized to identify craniocervical disruption, soft tissue injuries may be the only manifestation, thus making pediatric CSI difficult to diagnose on initial imaging. In the acute setting, CT cervical spine is an appropriate initial imaging modality for pediatric CSI evaluation. MRI serves as an additional tool to exclude or identify injuries when initial findings are equivocal. It is essential to recognize the unique anatomy and biomechanics of the pediatric spine and thus discern common pediatric CSI patterns and their mimics.