Pediatric transverse sacral fracture with cauda equina syndrome

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Transverse sacral fracture in pediatric patients is extremely uncommon with only nine cases reported in literature so far. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to heighten awareness and treatment options of a rare injury of traumatic pediatric transverse sacral fracture with cauda equina syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: This is a clinical case report and literature review. METHODS: We report a case of a 13-year-old girl with a Type III Roy-Camille, Zone III Denis sacral fracture whose only neurological deficit was a cauda equina syndrome with bowel and bladder involvement. She underwent emergent sacral laminectomy and surgical stabilization to decompress the cauda equina. RESULTS: The patient regained bowel and bladder function at 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This case is presented to highlight the rarity of a pediatric transverse sacral fracture, which requires a high index of suspicion as early decompression helps in reversing the neurological deficit. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.