Friday’s Fact
Did you know that motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of spinal cord injuries in kids? Not surprising, an estimated 70 percent of these injuries happened to children who were not wearing seat belts.
Even a small impact, such as a minor rear-ending, can cause potential spinal cord damage. Here are some of the symptoms to look for:
Flaccid extremties
Paralysis
Numbness or paresthesias (sensations such as tingling or burning)
Paresis or weakness
Priaprism
Incontinence of bowel or bladder
Injuries to the spinal cord are difficult to discover in children, so it’s necessary to closely monitor for these signs as well as indicators of pain or poor reflexes.
While we can’t always prevent an injury, we can work to limit the damage by acting quickly after an accident.
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