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External Immobilization of the Child’s Cervical Spine

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The Management of Disorders of the Child’s Cervical Spine

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Abstract

Immobilization of the child’s cervical spine with the use of external supports requires an understanding of the anatomy and biomechanics of the child’s skull and neck. While some of the information available from the adult literature can inform the choice of device, there are important features, which are unique to children.

This chapter addresses the most common prefabricated cervical and cervicothoracic orthoses, including soft collars, hard collars, Minerva, SOMI, and halos both traditional and pinless. The common complications of these devices are discussed. The need for customized options in the pediatric population is also addressed.

The broad indication for the use of external immobilization is either the provision of support in the case of instability arising from trauma, surgery, and inflammatory causes or the correction of cervical spine deformity: torticollis, atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation, or kyphosis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Michael B. Johnson

  2. Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Leah McLachlan

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  1. Michael B. Johnson
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  2. Leah McLachlan
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Correspondence to Michael B. Johnson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Daniel J. Hedequist

  2. Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, USA

    Suken A. Shah

  3. Rady’s Children’s Hospital Associate, San Diego, California, USA

    Burt Yaszay

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Johnson, M.B., McLachlan, L. (2018). External Immobilization of the Child’s Cervical Spine. In: Hedequist, D., Shah, S., Yaszay, B. (eds) The Management of Disorders of the Child’s Cervical Spine. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7491-7_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7491-7_16

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7491-7

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