The effect of childhood spinal cord injury on skeletal development: a retrospective study

STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional clinical review. OBJECTIVES To assess the relationship between late spinal deformity in childhood onset spinal cord injury (SCI) and level of spinal cord lesion, severity of lesion, age at onset, duration of paralysis and pelvic deformities. SETTING People with spinal cord injury (onset in childhood) treated and followed up at the National Spinal Injuries Center (identified from case notes review, contacted and agreed to participate). METHOD One hundred and eighty-nine subjects satisfying study inclusion criteria (acute onset SCI before the 16th birthday) were identified by case note review of 8200 records. Eighty formed the group attending for clinical review including whole spine radiographs (AP and lateral). Clinical examination included neurological status and joint range of movements. Demographic data was recorded. RESULTS Scoliosis occurred more frequently and was more severe in those injured at a younger age, 38 degrees, compared with 24 degrees in those injured later (P