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THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  NECK

 

As part of the spinal column, the neck consists of a series of intricately arranged bony vertebrae, interspersed with flexible discs of cartilage.

 

• The spinal cord, which is responsible for nervous control of the body's every move, runs through the centre of the spinal column. This is designed to protect the spinal cord while enabling the head and neck to move freely. 
• The neck is vulnerable to a number of injuries, particularly in children. Any neck injury, no matter how mild, should be treated with great caution, because damage to the spinal cord can result in paralysis and even death. 

Any injury to the neck should be examined by a medical professional. A series of checks will be carried out to eliminate the possibility of serious damage to the area.

 

Causes  of  neck  injuries

 

Children are particularly accident-prone, making their necks very susceptible to injury.

 

Falls: any fall can result in neck injury due to landing awkwardly on the neck, possibly leading to a strain or fracture.

 

Sprains: the muscles of the neck may become sprained during vigorous play.

 

Road traffic accidents: even a mild car collision can cause whiplash to occur, whereby the head is thrown forward and back very quickly. This causes the muscles in the neck to be seriously sprained, and the vertebrae to be compressed or misaligned. Road traffic accidents are the main cause of neck fractures in children, which can be life-threatening.

 

Sleeping awkwardly: children tend to wriggle around when they are asleep and may lie oddly so that they wake with a painful neck.

 

Torticollis: this condition causes the muscles of the neck to undergo painful spasms and contract, pulling the head to one side. It may develop in newborn babies after damage to the neck muscles during a difficult birth. In children, torticollis may be caused by swollen glands in the neck due to infection.

 

Infection: infections of the throat or ear can result in neck pain, due to the swelling of lymph glands in the neck in response to the infection. A sore neck may therefore be a symptom of an underlying infection. In rare cases, a stiff neck may be caused by meningitis, a life-threatening infection of the membrane surrounding the brain.

 

Make sure your child is securely strapped in during car travel. This will help to prevent a neck injury in the event of an accident.

 

Recognizing a neck injury

 

Your child may be unable to tell you that he has a sore neck, but may appear generally unwell. Watch him closely for signs of the following:

 

• Swelling around the neck.
• Uncharacteristic behaviour­ your child may become very quiet, for example, or appear extremely distressed.
• Your child may describe a numb feeling in his arms and legs or other parts of his body.
• He may hold his head awkwardly or lose his balance
• Any injury can cause the body to go into shock-your child may appear pale or clammy and have irregular shallow breathing and an erratic pulse.
• If the injury is serve, he may even lose consciousness. 

Meningitis

 

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the membrane surrounding the brain. It is life-threatening and requires urgent treatment. One of the symptoms is a stiff neck - for this reason you should always seek medical advice if your child complains of neck pain. Other symptoms include:

 

• A distinctive, blotchy red rash that does not disappear when pressure is applied.
• Flu like symptoms, such as appearing pale with a raised temperature.
• Headache, nausea and vomiting.
• Shying away from light - the eyes become over-sensitive to light as a result of the infection. 

NOTE: if your child shows any of these symptoms, you need to seek urgent medical help. If you are in 90ubt, it is better to see a doctor straight away than to leave it too late. Meningitis can be very difficult to diagnose so there is no reason to feel foolish if it is a false alarm.

 

Treatment for neck strain or sprain

 

If the only symptom your child has is a sore neck, it is likely that it is a simple sprain.

 

• Paracetamol or ibuprofen liquid may help to ease the pain and reduce any inflammation, but seek medical advice first. 
• A warm bath may help to ease the muscles of the neck. 
• The doctor may advise that your child rests in bed with a warm hot­ water bottle and some comfortable pillows.  

Emergency measure for a suspected neck fracture

 

If your child has had a fall or been involve with a car accident and displays the symptoms of a fractured neck, you must call an ambulance immediately as urgent medical treatment will be required. while you are waiting for an ambulance, there are some steps you can take to help your child.

 

• Make sure that his airway is clear and that he is breathing normally. 
• If a fracture is suspected, do not move your child, unless he is in imminent, life-threatening danger. If you do have to move him, you will need someone else to help. Make sure that the back and neck are supported and roll your child like a log, keeping his neck and spine aligned, to a safe place. 
• If your child is moving, you may to restrain him gently by placing a rolled-up blanket either side of him, or by placing a pillow either side of his head to stabilise it. 

Continue to monitor your child's breathing and pulse until the ambulance arrives.

 

Hospital treatment

 

When the ambulance arrive, you will need to explain to the paramedics exactly how the injuries happened.  This will help them to assess the damage accuratlely.

 

• If a broken neck is suspected, the paramedics will place a special collar around your child's neck. This stabilises the neck and prevents the head from moving. 
• Your child will then be lifted on to a stretcher and transported to hospital in the ambulance. 
• Once at the hospital, your child will be assessed for any nerve damage and an X-ray will be taken to confirm whether or not the neck is broken. 
• Treatment will depend upon the extent of the injury. If the neck is broken, it will need to be re-aligned and fixed in place. 

A neck injury can be very serious. Hospitalization may be necessary to reduce the risk of further damage. 

 

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.