Caring for a child who suffers from a neurological complication can be quite challenging for not only parents but the entire family. For many children, the neurological impairments result from congenital or genetic defects realized at birth. For others, neurological complications may be associated with spinal cord injury.
One such injury, commonly affecting male children more so than female children, is a condition known as Central cord syndrome. This type of spinal cord injury results in total or incomplete paralysis to the upper extremity, resulting from an incomplete lesion, which leaves only a partial loss of sensation. If you are looking for A board certified spine surgeon in New Jersey then you can click on the given link. There you get the best and experienced doctors that are really capable of treating central cord syndrome in children.
In children who suffer from Central cord syndrome, the spinal cord injury is limited to a location within the first seven vertebrae of the spinal column, known as the cervical region. The degree to which the lesion has affected this upper part of the spinal column will determine to what extent the child loses the ability to use the upper extremities. In mild cases of Central cord syndrome, the fine motor movements, usually in the fingers and hands, are lost first with more advanced and severe cases resulting in total loss of use in the upper extremities.
How do you know if your child’s injury may result in a Central cord syndrome? Commonly, children who experience a traumatic injury to the spine, and the development of an incomplete lesion, will first notice pain, throbbing or burning sensations in the neck. In many cases, this pain may radiate to the arms, hands, and fingers. As the lesion progresses, your child may begin to lose some ability to grasp objects and complain of loss of feeling in the fingers and hands.
If these neurological symptoms are present in your child, in the hours, days and weeks after a fall or injury to the cervical region, it is important to consult a healthcare professional to determine if your child has developed Central cord syndrome. As a general rule, this neurological complication can be confirmed by either MRI or CT scans.
To treat a Central cord syndrome injury in your child, a neurologist will need to conduct a thorough examination and, oftentimes, will recommend hospital admission with a course of IV administer steroids. This type of treatment is important to reduce the inflammation associated with an incomplete lesion and to promote healing. In more advanced cases of the incomplete lesion, your child may require spinal decompression surgery.
Children are at constant risk of sustaining injuries from falling. From bumps and bruises to fractures and breaks, we often seek out medical treatment only when we feel the injury may result in some form of long term complication. While neck pain commonly resolves within a few days, in children who suffer from changes in hand and finger sensations following an injury, consultation with a healthcare professional should take place immediately to rule out the spinal cord injury known as Central cord syndrome.
