- Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality
- Defined as objective signs of traumatic myelopathy in children who show no radiographic evidence of skeletal injury or subluxation
- Excludes birth, penetrating & electric shock
- Upper cervical SCIWORA in young kids, Lower SCIWORA is mixed between the child & adolescent age groups
- mechanism may be flexion, extension, distraction & ischaemic
Classification
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Early | Acute diagnosis, about 50% of cases |
| Delayed | Onset after a latent period of 1 to 4 days |
| Recurrent | A second episode 3 days to 10 weeks later, in about 15% of cases |
Physical Examination
- A complete physical examination is followed by classification of the neurologic injury
- Complete versus partial (central cord, anterior cord, Brown – Sequard)
- Grade as mild if able to walk & severe if ambulation is seriously impaired
Investigation
- investigation includes plain films static, & dynamic
- CT scan if appropriate
- Also an MRI
Treatment
- A steroid protocol should be instituted
- A hard collar or TLSO is offered
- There is little to offer other than supportive management
Reviewed by Professor Phong Tran, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health. Last updated 10 October 2026.