Head and Spinal Cord Trauma
Head injuries in children are a major cause of childhood morbidity in the United States, with boys twice as likely to be injured as girls. In rare cases, the spinal cord may also be injured. Fortunately, most pediatric head injuries are “medical” and do not require neurosurgical intervention.
Such medical injuries include:
- scalp swellings
- skull fractures
- cerebral contusion (bruise on the brain)
In the case of a spinal cord injury, collaboration between Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Intensive Care is essential. Alcy Torres, MD, has worked in this area for over twenty years, providing teaching and clinical guidance to professionals involved in the evaluation and management of children with head and spinal cord injuries.