Birth trauma of cervical spine

During the birth the infant experiences a great physical exertion when passing through the maternal passages. The newborn’s skeletal system is different from the adult person skeletal system – it is characterized by special flexibility in order to go through this passage without consequences. Thus the newborn babies have an increased chance of receiving a birth trauma of cervical spine during the process of delivery.

But if the fetus is very big or postmature, or the birth had gone incorrectly, the unforeseen situations often arise. Indeed, the cervical spine undergoes the greatest injurious exposure during the natural birth.

About 31% of children receive a birth trauma in cephalic presentation, in case of pelvic presentation this figure is even higher – 38-40%

Birth trauma of the cervical spine is the prime factor in the perinatal affection of the baby’s nervous system!

Depending on the type of affection, the birth traumas are classified into 3 main groups:

1. Rotational
2. Distraction
3. Bending-compressive

Causes and consequences of birth trauma of the cervical spine in children

A rotary trauma of the cervical spine in newborns occurs in the process of birth, when birth attendants help the child to move forward through the maternal passage performing kind of circular (rotational) movements with the child’s head. These movements can lead to the atlas subluxation (the first cervical vertebra) and damage the first and second vertebrae connection. The dislocation of the first cranial vertebra and the diminution of the spinal canal are possible as well. Spinal stenosis, in its turn, leads to the spinal cord compression.

In case of baby overweight the birth attendants have to apply an exert force. This can lead to distraction trauma of cervical spine. This type also includes the centrum break from the disks, ruptures of ligaments of cervical spine and spinal cord injury.

Bending-compressive traumas often occur during fast and rapid labour, especially if the fetus has overweight. The head of the child meets resistance while moving through the narrow maternal passage. Because of this resistance compressional fractures of vertebral bodies can occur.

Sometimes the consequences of birth trauma in the natal form can’t be detected immediately after birth; the symptoms can appear with time, be single or complex.

Symptoms of cervical spine birth trauma

The following symptoms indicate the birth trauma of cervical spine (a bit later after birth):

• Torticollis;
• Frequent posseting, which occurs due to a diaphragm hypertension;
• Decrease or total absence of some reflexes;
• Asymmetry of the head region;
• Hands and feet movement disorder;
• Symptoms of a nerve

Neurological disorders of spinal birth injuries, which are detected during examination, depend on the spinal cord damage degree. This may be paresis or limb paralysis, or signs of insufficient blood supply to the brain due to the large vertebral arteries compression.

These disorders can be one of the child’s mental development delay reasons. The child can not sit on time, walks with difficulty, has motion coordination disorder, reaches the talking stage a bit later, memorizing and ideation processes may also be affected. In case of revealing these symptoms, we recommend you immediately undergo the medical examination and immediately start treating the cervical spine birth trauma. Otherwise, at an older age, the child may suffer from headaches, increased arterial pressure, digestive disorders, and enuresis. That means the birth trauma will affect the child’s behaviour, his/her development and well-being.

Parents or a pediatrist often downplay the consequences of birth trauma and do not take any measures to treat this condition in newborns. But the problem, unfortunately, does not disappear, and we must deal with the consequences of the spinal disorders that have occurred during childbirth in preschool age and adolescence. And in such cases it is very difficult, even almost impossible, to do something, because of the lost time.

Such consequences include early osteochondrosis and scoliosis, upper limb girdle atonia, decreased muscle tone, fine movements disorders, autonomic dysfunctions, clubfoot and cardiovascular disorders.

After a time, at school, children, suffering a cervical spine birth trauma, may show low performing; they can be inactive and hyperactive, what does not have a positive effect on their communication with others. They are excitable, overly emotional, and sometimes aggressive. Bad marks and behavioural disorders lead to a decrease of self-esteem and heighten the negative processes in the nervous system. In more severe cases children with cervical spine trauma suffer from nonreversible neurological disorders, which lead to disability.

Thus, both the process of birth and focusing on the child’s condition after birth play a very important role in child’s entire life, because seasonable aid helps to avoid lots of problems.

Treatment of cervical spine birth trauma

We pay much attention to the cervical spine birth traumas, taking into account the importance of this pathology in the formation of the above-listed conditions.

Dr. Bersenev’s metameric method gives an opportunity to assess the spine and spinal cord condition yet at the child’s primary examination. In case of cervical spine traumatism signs our doctors develop a metameric treatment and rehabilitation program.  In order to restore the baby’s health an integrated approach is required; the child’s treatment in our clinic is based on this very principle.

If the child gets an early competent medical assistance, there is a chance to completely restore the baby’s organism and to neutralize all the negative birth trauma consequences.

To make an appointment for a consultation or a treatment session, please, call (044)272-11-82 (children’s department) or (044)238-22-31 (call centre). The booking is carried out by previous appointment.