Clinical review of cervical spine injuries in children.

Clinical presentation is made of 18 cervical fractures occurring in children age 15 and under. Seven of 18 patients sustained neurological complications. The incidence of childhood cervical spine injury increases with age. Sixteen of 18 lesions were found in the C1 through C4 area in contrast to a greater involvement in adults in levels of C4 through C7. Although normal variations and anomalies are frequent in cervical spines in children, over treatment, at least initially, is recommended in all cases in which the diagnosis is in doubt.