Purpose of review: The current review describes the current evidence on pediatric spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) with attention to the definition, epidemiology, and clinical presentation of the condition, as well as common MRI findings, management strategies, and outcomes.
Recent findings: Recent literature demonstrates that with more widespread MRI use, our understanding of SCIWORA has improved. The new literature, although still limited, provides a more granular conceptualization of patterns of injury as well as potential prognostic stratification of patients based on MRI findings. Through case studies and national database analyses, researchers have further defined the epidemiology and outcomes of SCIWORA.
Summary: Although SCIWORA occurs infrequently, thus making robust research a challenge, maintaining a high suspicion in the appropriate clinical setting ought to prompt acquisition of advanced imaging. For patients with persisting neurologic symptoms after trauma, despite negative plain films and cervical spine computed tomography, MRI can be helpful diagnostically as well as prognostically. Once SCIWORA is diagnosed, patients are treated nonoperatively with hard collar immobilization and physical therapy.