Acute Myelopathy in Childhood

Understanding degenerative cervical myelopathy in musculoskeletal practice

BACKGROUND

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a progressive compression of the spinal cord. DCM often looks like common symptoms of aging or bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in its early stages, requiring careful differential diagnosis. Identifying DCM is a real challenge as no validated screening tools are available for making the DCM diagnosis. Potentially, individuals with DCM may experience misdiagnosis or substantial diagnostic delays, with an enhanced risk of irreversible neurological consequences if not promptly addressed. Despite the increasing prevalence, there is a lack of awareness about DCM among both the public and healthcare professionals. However, patients may seek physiotherapy to obtain a diagnosis or access treatment.

METHODS

A comprehensive (non-systematic) review of the literature about DCM epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and management was conducted.

RESULTS

A guide and essential knowledge to facilitate clinicians to understand DCM and to enhance clinical reasoning skills, performance and interpretation of the examination are provided. Interdisciplinary collaboration and optimal referral methods are also handled.

CONCLUSION

The aim of this article is to summarize and enhance physiotherapists' essential knowledge of the differential diagnosis and management of patients with DCM.

Pediatric Spinal Vascular Abnormalities: Overview, Diagnosis, and Management

Hemangioblastomas are true benign vascular neoplasms arising from pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells that give rise to vascular endothelial cells and are most commonly found in the cerebellum, spinal cord, brainstem, and retina. These tumors may be isolated sporadic lesions or may be associated with hereditary genetic factors in the case of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. Spinal cord haemangioblastomas constitute 1.1% to 2.4% of all central nervous system tumors105, with the majority being single tumors that present in the fourth decade of life 106. In the pediatric population, sporadic spinal cord hemangioblastomas are exceedingly rare. The prevalence of spinal cord hemangioblastomas in children is increased among those with VHL syndrome. The thoracic cord is the most common site for spinal cord hemangioblastomas, followed by the cervical cord. Although these tumors are benign, they cause disabling symptoms due to spinal cord compression, syringomyelia, or hemorrhage from the tumor itself or from aneurysms that form on tumor-feeding arteries or intra-tumoral vessels.

Acute infections of the central nervous system in children and adults: diagnosis and management

Central nervous system infections are due to different microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, amoebas, and other parasites. The etiology depends on multiple risk factors, and it defines the infection location because some microorganisms prefer meninges, brain tissue, cerebellum, brain stem or spinal cord. The microorganisms induce diseases in the nervous system through direct invasion, neurotoxin production, and the triggered immune response. To determine the infection etiology, there are several diagnostic tests which may be conducted with cerebrospinal fluid, blood, respiratory and stool samples. These tests include but are not limited to direct microscopic examination of the sample, stains, cultures, antigenic tests, nucleic acid amplification tests, metagenomic next-generation sequencing, immunologic biomarker and neuroimaging, especially contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The treatment may consist of specific antimicrobial treatment and supportive standard care. Since viruses have no specific antiviral treatment, antimicrobial treatment is mainly targeted at non-viral infections. This article will focus on diagnosis and treatment of acute acquired infections of the central nervous system beyond the neonatal period. The discussion defines the disease, provides the clinical presentation, explains the etiology and risk factors, and briefly mentions potential complications. This updated review aims to provide the reader with all the elements needed to adequately approach a patient with a central nervous system infection. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, Cryptococcus spp. infection and vaccines are not within the scope of this article.

Physiotherapy Rehabilitation for Compressive Myelopathy in a 12-Year-Old Girl: A Case Study

Myelopathy manifests in childhood and can be clinically categorized according to the site of injury (which may result in spinal syndrome) or the source (which may be nontraumatic or widely traumatic). Nontraumatic myelopathy can be caused by inflammatory, infectious, nutritional, metabolic, or ischemic factors. It may also be associated with systemic illnesses such as demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis, or systemic lupus. Nonintentional harm is a significant factor to take into account in instances of traumatic myelopathy, which can frequently be linked to additional injuries. MRI and CT radiography help identify compressive myelopathy. We present the case of a 12-year-old girl who is right-hand dominant. She was in good health six months ago but recently began experiencing weakness in both of her lower limbs. An MRI of the brain revealed basilar invagination with stenosis of the foramen magnum, causing compressive myelopathy at the cranio-vertebral junction. The patient was operated on, followed by physiotherapy rehabilitation to improve functional independence and quality of life.

Pharmacologic and Acute Management of Spinal Cord Injury in Adults and Children

Purpose of Review

This review provides guidance for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) management through an analytical assessment of the most recent evidence on therapies available for treating SCI, including newer therapies under investigation. We present an approach to the SCI patient starting at presentation to acute rehabilitation and prognostication, with additional emphasis on the pediatric population when evidence is available.

Recent Findings

Further studies since the Surgical Timing in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study (STASCIS) demonstrated a potential functional outcome benefit with ultra-early surgical intervention ≤ 8 h post-SCI. Subsequent analysis of the National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study (NASCIS) II and NASCIS III trials have demonstrated potentially serious complications from intravenous methylprednisolone with limited benefit. Newer therapies actively being studied have demonstrated limited or no benefit in preclinical and clinical trials with insufficient evidence to support use in acute SCI treatment.

Summary

Care for SCI patients requires a multi-disciplinary team. Immediate evaluation and management are focused on preventing additional injury and restoring perfusion to the affected cord. Rapid assessment and intervention involve focused neurological examination, targeted imaging, and surgical intervention when indicated. There are currently no evidence-based recommendations for pathomechanistically targeted therapies.