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Risk factors and prognosis of spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality in children in China

Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the risk factors and prognosis associated with SCIWORA in China. Method: We retrospectively examined patient records at the First Hospital of Jilin University from January 2007 to December 2020. Result: The study group included 16 patients with SCIWORA with a mean age of 6.69±2.51 y. The ISNCSCI impairment scale was significantly different between the pre-school age patients (≤7 years old) and school age patients (>7 years old) before (P=0.044) and after therapy (P=0.002). Similarly, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a significant difference in the spinal injury level between pre-school age and school age patients (P=0.041). Further, the study group was subdivided into three subgroups according to the cause of trauma: Dance, Taekwondo, or Falls. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed significant differences among the three subgroups (P=0.041). Conclusion: Compared to school-age patients, pre-school-age patients were more vulnerable to SCIWORA with more severe ISNCSCI scores. Dance and Taekwondo are among the risk factors associated with SCIWORA in Chinese children.