Every parent cringes when their Timmy takes a tumble, but what parent would prevent an active, healthy child from participating in sports or active hobbies? Yet, accidents do happen.
Even though it is rare, a fracture of the thoracic spine – that upper-back region that encompasses spinal vertebrae T1 through T12 – should receive immediate medical attention. Males are four times more likely to suffer this injury than females, but young girls are more active these days than ever.
Spinal cord injuries in children most commonly occur with accidents on the sports field. The good news is that in children, thoracic spinal fractures are rare. Here’s the bad news: Even if a vertebra has not been fractured, trauma to the spinal cord may trigger a life-changing event that could limit your child’s mobility long-term.
Nature has built in impressive protection against injury for a tumbling tot. A child’s spinal disc absorbs shocks to the spine more effectively than an adult, due to the higher water content in a child’s spinal disc. That’s one reason why bouncing babies can take a lot of tumbles without incurring significant spinal injuries.
Yet, nature didn’t factor in the advent of modern transportation, and automobile accidents are a major cause of thoracic spinal fractures. (Always take those few minutes to ensure children are properly buckled in before starting the car.)
If your child has taken a tumble that could cause a spinal fracture, what should you do? Typically, non-surgical remedies are used to treat stable spinal fractures. Evidence of neurological injuries, such as tingling sensations, numbness in any area of the body, or severe, persistent pain that follows a fall or impact, are all serious symptoms. In these cases, seek medical treatment as quickly as possible.
If you suspect a serious spinal fracture has occurred, if your child reports a loss of feeling in any part of the body or experienced even a few moments of unconsciousness, call an ambulance. Do not attempt to transport a child that may have a serious spinal injury, as moving the child could make the injury worse.