Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Clinical Child Neurology pp 1101–1139Cite as

Spinal Cord Disorders and Paraplegias

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Paraplegia is defined as complete loss of motor and sensory function from the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions of the spinal cord, whereas paraparesis is partial weakness in both lower limbs, due to disorder in the spinal cord or nerves supplying the muscles or direct involvement of the muscles. The child loses the ability to stand or walk and may also lose urinary and bowel control, and temperature and pain sensation in the affected area [1, 2].

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kim C, Vassilyadi M, Forbes JK, Moroz NWP, Camacho A, Moroz PJ. Traumatic spinal injuries at a single level 1 pediatric trauma center: report of a 23-year experience. Can J Surg. 2016;59:205–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Gupta A, Taly AB, Srivastava A, Murali T. Non-traumatic spinal cord lesions: epidemiology, complications, neurological and functional outcome of rehabilitation. Spinal Cord. 2009;47:307–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhu FP, Wu JS, Song YY, Yao CJ, Zhuang DX, Xu G, Tang WJ, Qin ZY, Mao Y, Zhou LF. Clinical application of motor pathway mapping using diffusion tensor imaging tractography and intraoperative direct subcortical stimulation in cerebral glioma surgery: a prospective cohort study. Neurosurgery. 2012;71:1170–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Aresti NA, Barry M, Spine P. Paediatric orthopaedics in clinical practice. London: Springer; 2016. p. 53–68.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Schwenkreis P, Pennekamp W, Tegenthoff M. Differential diagnosis of acute and subacute non-traumatic paraplegia. Dtsch Arztebl. 2006;103:2948–54.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Shieh JTC, Hoyme HE, Arbour LT. Hyalinosis, inherited systemic. In: Pagon RA, Adam MP, Ardinger HH, et al., editors. GeneReviews®. Seattle: University of Washington; 2008. p. 1993–2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1525/.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Salih MA. Neural tube defects: challenging, yet preventable. Saudi Med J. 2014;35(Suppl 1):S3–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang LL, Congenital BKS. Hereditary diseases of the spinal cord. In: Seminars in ultrasound, CT and MRI. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2017. p. 105–25.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kumar Y, Gupta N, Hooda K, Sharma P, Sharma S, Kochar P, Hayashi D. Caudal regression syndrome: a case series of a rare congenital anomaly. Pol J Radiol. 2017;82:188–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Vogel LC, Betz RR, Mulcahey MJ. Spinal cord injuries in children and adolescents. Handb Clin Neurol. 2012;109:131–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Parent S, Mac-Thiong JM, Roy-Beaudry M, Sosa JF, Labelle H. Spinal cord injury in the pediatric population: a systematic review of the literature. J Neurotrauma. 2011;28:1515–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Margetis K, Greenfield JP, Malformation C. Common neurosurgical conditions in the pediatric practice. New York: Springer; 2017. p. 301–20.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  13. Sgouros S, Sharif S. Post-traumatic syringomyelia producing paraplegia in an infant. Childs Nerv Syst. 2008;24:357–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Jamjoom A, Tjan TG, Jamjoom ZA, Salih M, Rahman NU. Embolization of an intramedullary arteriovenous malformation of the spinal cord. Saudi Med J. 1995;16(6):565–8.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Cho WS, Wang KC, Phi JH, Lee JY, Chong S, Kang HS, et al. Pediatric spinal arteriovenous malformations and fistulas: a single institute’s experience. Childs Nerv Syst. 2016;32:811–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kumar S, Desai A, Bhatia L, Garg A. Multiple spinal arachnoid cysts in a child. Pediatr Neurol. 2016;55:76–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Parodi L, Fenu S, Stevanin G, Durr A. Hereditary spastic paraplegia: more than an upper motor neuron disease. Rev Neurol 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Tesson C, Nawara M, Salih MA, Rossignol R, Zaki MS, Al Balwi M, et al. Alteration of fatty-acid-metabolizing enzymes affects mitochondrial form and function in hereditary spastic paraplegia. Am J Hum Genet. 2012;91(6):1051.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Marelli C, Salih MA, Nguyen K, Mallaret M, Leboucq N, Hassan HH, et al. Cerebral iron accumulation is not a major feature of FA2H/SPG35. Move Disord Clin Prac. 2015;2(1):56–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Elsayed LE, Mohammed IN, Hamed AA, Elseed MA, Johnson A, Mairey M, et al. Hereditary spastic paraplegias: identification of a novel SPG57 variant affecting TFG oligomerization and description of HSP subtypes in Sudan. Eur J Human Gen. 2016;25(1):100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Jackson AB, Dijkers M, DeVivo MJ, Poczatek RB. A demographic profile of new traumatic spinal cord injuries: change and stability over 30 years. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85:1740–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Elgamal EA, Elwatidy S, Zakaria AM, Abdel-Raouf AA. Spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality (SCIWORA). Neurosciences. 2008;13:437–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hung PC, Wu CT, Jaing TH, Sheen JM, Chou ML, Lin KL. Primary spinal tumors in childhood: a single institution 15-year experience. Asian J Neurosurg. 2016;11:440–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Rahman NU, Salih MA, Jamjoom AH, Jamjoom ZA. Congenital intramedullary lipoma of the dorsocervical spinal cord with intracranial extension. Neurosurgery. 1994;34(6):1081–3.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Munshi A, Talapatra K, Ramadwar M, Jalali R. Spinal epidermoid cyst with sudden onset of paraplegia. J Cancer Res Ther. 2009;5:290–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Savage JJ, Casey JN, McNeill IT, Sherman JH. Neurenteric cysts of the spine. J Craniovert Junc Spine. 2010;1(1):58–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Kim HJ, McLawhorn AS, Goldstein MJ, Boland PJ. Malignant osseous tumors of the pediatric spine. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2012;20:646–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Garneti N, Dunn D, El Gamal E, Williams DA, Nelson IW, Sandemon DR. Cervical spondyloptosis caused by an aneurysmal bone cyst: a case report. Spine. 2003;1976(28):E68–70.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Stettler S, El-Koussy M, Ritter B, Boltshauser E, Jeannet PY, Kolditz P, et al. Non-traumatic spinal cord ischemia in childhood – clinical manifestation, neuroimaging and outcome. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2013;17:176–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Nagata K, Tanaka Y, Kanai H, Oshima Y. Acute complete paraplegia of 8-year-old girl caused by spinal cord infarction following minor trauma complicated with longitudinal signal change of spinal cord. Eur Spine J. 2017;26(5):1432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Absoud M, Greenberg BM, Lim M, Lotze T, Thomas T, Deiva K. Pediatric transverse myelitis. Neurology. 2016;87(9 Supplement 2):S46–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Tshala-Katumbay D, Mumba N, Okitundu L, Kazadi K, Banea M, Tylleskär T, et al. Cassava food toxins, konzo disease, and neurodegeneration in sub-Sahara Africans. Neurology. 2013;80(10):949–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Pidcock FS, Krishnan C, Crawford TO, Salorio CF, Trovato M, Kerr DA. Acute transverse myelitis in childhood: center-based analysis of 47 cases. Neurology. 2007;68:1474–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Kuo SC, Cho WH, Shih HI, Tu YF. Idiopathic acute transverse myelitis in children: a retrospective series. Neuropediatrics. 2015;46(5):307–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Suthar R, Sankhyan N, Sahu JK, Khandelwal NK, Singhi S, Singhi P. Acute transverse myelitis in childhood: a single Centre experience from North India. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2016;20(3):352–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Manoharan SR, Leitao J, Emberton P, Quraishi NA. Large tuberculosis abscess causing compression of cervico-thoracic region in a young child. Eur Spine J. 2013;22:1459–63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Benzagmout M, Boujraf S, Chakour K, Chaoui MEF. Pott’s disease in children. Surg Neurol Int. 2011;2:1. https://doi.org/10.4103/2152-7806.75459.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. El Azbaoui S, Mrani NA, Sabri A, Jouhadi Z, Ailal F, Bousfiha AA, et al. Pott’s disease in Moroccan children: clinical features and investigation of the IL-12/IFN-γ pathway. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2015;19(12):1455–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Moon M-S. Tuberculosis of spine: current views in diagnosis and management. Asian Spine J. 2014;8(1):97–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Federal Ministry of Health. National Guideline for Management of Childhood Tuberculosis in Sudan. Accessed: 7 July 2017. http://www.sudanap.org/pdf/gp6.pdf.

  41. Adeel AA. Spinal cord schistosomiasis. Sudan J Paediatr. 2015;15:23–8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurosurgery Division, Surgery Institute, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Essam A. Elgamal

  2. Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK

    Amro Hazem Mohamed

  3. Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mustafa A. M. Salih

Authors
  1. Essam A. Elgamal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amro Hazem Mohamed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mustafa A. M. Salih
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mustafa A. M. Salih .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine Division of Pediatric Neurology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mustafa A.M. Salih

37.1 Electronic Supplementary Materials

The gait of a girl complaining of spastic paraparesis, and referred to as a case of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Spine magnetic resonance image (MRI, Fig. 37.11) revealed cystic intramedullary lesion at T7-T9 level measuring 3 cm in craniocaudal plain representing congenital syrinx. Brain MRI was normal (MP4 6757 kb)

Hyperreflexia of the upper limbs in a child who has autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia-20 (SPG20, Troyer syndrome) caused by homozygous mutation in the spartin gene (MP4 55510 kb)

Brisk knee jerks in a child who has autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia-20 (SPG20, Troyer syndrome) caused by homozygous mutation in the spartin gene. Note the woolen long socks because of cold feet (MP4 16615 kb)

Toe walking and spastic gait in a 3-year-old child with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy who had botulinum toxin (Botox) treatment for spasticity (MP4 14354 kb)

A young child (Fig. 37.13) with dopa-responsive dystonia (Segawa disease) due to homozygous mutation in the gene encoding GTP cyclohydrolase I (GCH1 gene). Note the rigid tone of the lower limbs and striatal toe (an apparent spontaneous extensor plantar response, without fanning of the toes) (MP4 39050 kb)

Demonstrating operative findings during removal of dermal sinus tract attached to dermoid tumor, and sharp dissection of the dermoid from its attachment to the spinal cord (MP4 25400 kb)

One-year old girl (Fig. 37.19) who had paraplegia due to dorsal cord compression associated with neuroblastoma. The superficial abdominal reflex was absent, whereas the knee and ankle jerks were brisk. Note the ankle clonus of the left foot (MP4 88557 kb)

Ankle clonus in a 1-year-old girl (Fig. 37.19) who had paraplegia due to dorsal cord compression associated with neuroblastoma (MP4 24078 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Elgamal, E.A., Mohamed, A.H., Salih, M.A.M. (2020). Spinal Cord Disorders and Paraplegias. In: Salih, M.A. (eds) Clinical Child Neurology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43153-6_37

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43153-6_37

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-43152-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-43153-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation