Spinal cord insults in the prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal periods

Interdisciplinary, Intensive, Activity-Based Treatment for Intrauterine Spinal Cord Infarct: A Case Report

Intrauterine spinal cord infarcts (IUSCI) with resulting tetraplegia are extremely rare, and there is minimal evidence describing outcomes in this population. This case describes the functional progress of a 3-year-old girl born with IUSCI who participated in activity-based therapies (ABT). Children have developing nervous systems and are particularly suited to benefit from ABT. Over the course of treatment, the child in this case has demonstrated improvements in developmental milestone achievement including fine and gross motor skills and social/cognitive development. Intense, interdisciplinary ABT should be considered for the treatment of children with IUSCI.

Protecting motor networks during perinatal ischemia: the case for delta-opioid receptors

Perinatal ischemia is a common clinical problem with few successful therapies to prevent neuronal damage. Delta opioid receptor (DOR) activation is a versatile, evolutionarily conserved, endogenous neuroprotective mechanism that blocks several steps in the deleterious cascade of neurological events during ischemia. DOR activation prior to ischemia or severe hypoxia is neuroprotective in spinal motor networks, as well as cortical, cerebellar, and hippocampal neural networks. In addition to providing acute and long-lasting neuroprotection against ischemia, DOR activation appears to provide neuroprotection when given before, during, or following the onset of ischemia. Finally, DORs can be upregulated by several physiological and experimental perturbations. Potential adverse side effects affecting motor control, such as respiratory depression and seizures, are not well established in young mammals and may be mitigated by altering drug choice and method of drug administration. The unique features of DOR-dependent neuroprotection make it an attractive potential therapy that may be given to at-risk pregnant mothers shortly before delivery to provide long-lasting neuroprotection against unpredictable perinatal ischemic events.

Prenatal stroke

The main focus of this chapter is the comprehensive description of the neuropathology, the imaging correlates and underlying mechanisms of prenatal stroke. We describe established prenatal stroke in subgroups similar to postnatal stroke: arterial (forebrain or hindbrain) infarction, venous thrombosis, primary lobar haemorrhage. This longitudinal classification should facilitate the study of risk factors and mechanisms. Forebrain lesions of arterial type present as porencephaly, (hemi)hydranencephaly, multicystic encephalopathy or schizencephaly. Venous prenatal forebrain stroke presents as simple porencephaly (in some of genetic nature) and sinus thrombosis. A list of rare porencephaly-like conditions is added for differentiation from arterial and venous porencephaly. Hindbrain infarctions (so far the only reported variants seem to be of arterial nature) present as brainstem disconnection, focal brainstem destruction, uni- or bilateral cerebellar destruction and focal spinal cord ischaemia. Prenatal intracranial haemorrhage and congenital brain infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of prenatal stroke.

Classification of major newborn birth injuries

A classification system of various forms of major newborn birth injuries is clearly lacking in the literature. Currently, no scales exist for distinguishing degrees, extent, or distinctions of major birth injuries. The purpose of this study was to use published and online literature to explore the timing, prediction, and outcomes of major newborn birth injuries. Potential antecedents and causes were used in depicting what were reported to be major birth injuries. The outcome of this literature search was the development of a classification table synthesizing the most frequently reported (n = 20) major newborn birth injuries. This classification was developed according to (1) types of tissue involved in the primary injury, (2) how and when the injury occurred, and (3) the relationship of the injury to birth outcomes. A classification scheme is critically needed as the first step to achieving preventive interventions and plans for long-term recovery from birth injuries. Because major birth trauma contributes to increased neonatal morbidity and mortality, its occurrence requires careful study and preventive efforts to better promote newborn health.

Congenital cervical spinal cord lesions: pathogenesis, management, and outcome

Three patients (2 boys) presented with nontraumatic congenital lesions of the spinal cord resulting in paralysis and contractures of their upper limbs from birth. Limited improvement occurred in all. Two survived. One patient required ventilation support after birth; his upper limbs had lower motor neuron flaccid paralysis, and his lower limbs evolved to pyramidal tract impairment. He died at 9 months of age with an intercurrent chest infection. The other 2 patients had lower motor neuron pathology in their upper limbs and normal lower limb function. One of these patients attained ambulation. All 3 patients retained normal higher mental function. Neuroimaging of the spinal cord from the most affected patient demonstrated atrophy of the cervical and high thoracic regions (C4-T3). Spinal neuroimaging results from the less affected patient were normal. Multidisciplinary management assisted these children to reach their full potential in a resource-poor setting. The etiology of focal pathology to the cervical region in these infants with congenital nontraumatic insults remains undefined, similar to the few cases in the literature. The diverse pathogeneses are hypothesized and the literature reviewed.

Part 1: recognizing neonatal spinal cord injury

Neonatal spinal cord injury can occur in utero, as well as after either a difficult delivery or a nontraumatic delivery. Spinal cord injury can also be related to invasive nursery procedures or underlying neonatal pathology. Early clinical signs of spinal cord injury that has occurred in utero or at delivery includes severe respiratory compromise and profound hypotonia. Knowledge of risk factors and awareness of symptoms is required for early recognition and appropriate treatment. This article reviews the embryological development of the spinal column highlighting mechanisms of injury and identifying underlying factors that increase the risk of spinal cord injury in newborns. Signs and symptoms of injury, cervical spine immobilization, and the differential diagnosis are discussed. Nursing implications, general prognosis, and research in spinal cord injury are provided.

Dislocation traumatique cervicale périnatale

We report on a case of cervical dislocation in which the severity of the lesion contrasts with the paucity of the symptoms. An eight-month-old girl presented with weakness of the left upper limb. She had a normal cephalic delivery. On the following days, increased weakness of the limb showed a spontaneous, partial regression. Clinical examination at eight months showed a normal physical and psychical development, a falling neck and an impossibility to maintain the sitting position, but a normal mobility of the lower limbs. Cervical radiography performed showed a complete dislocation. CT confirmed the diagnosis and eliminated congenital vertebral anomalies. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an important stretching and compression of the spinal cord. Cervical spine damage in the newborn are scarce and serious. The here reported case is characterized by a complete vertebral dislocation associated with medullar stretching and compression, but few initial symptoms.