Childhood spinal cord lesion: its effect on skeletal development, growth and lung function, a retrospective study

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) results in paralysis and loss of sensation caudally to the site of the lesion. It also presents the risk of many secondary complications, some of which can be life threatening. Peculiar to childhood SCI is the development of severe spinal deformity. As spinal deformity, itself, can lay the foundation to further complications such as functional decline and higher risk of pressure sores, as well as prove life threatening by compromising the cardiovascular system, it is a problem that causes great concern. As SCI in children is extremely rare the reported experience m this field has been limited. This thesis is concerned with the development of the skeleton following childhood SCI, both in terms of skeletal deformity and growth, as well as its influence on lung function. [Continues.]