Arno H. Fried, MD, FACS, FAANS
Pediatric & Adult Neurosurgeon
Brain & Spine Trauma in Children
Pediatric brain and spine trauma requires immediate medical evaluation to help prevent serious complications and support the best possible recovery. Injuries caused by falls, sports accidents, motor vehicle collisions, or other traumatic events can affect a child’s brain, spinal cord, or nervous system, making prompt diagnosis and specialized treatment essential.
At Advanced Neurosurgery Associates, our experienced pediatric neurosurgeon and neurosurgeons in New Jersey provide comprehensive care for children with pediatric brain and spine trauma. From emergency evaluation and advanced diagnostic imaging to surgical treatment and rehabilitation planning, our multidisciplinary team delivers personalized, evidence-based care. With convenient locations in Rutherford, Jersey City, Morristown, and New Brunswick, families have access to expert pediatric brain and spine trauma care close to home, ensuring every child receives the treatment and follow-up needed for the best possible outcome.
How Pediatric Trauma Is Different
A child’s brain and spine are still developing, making them more vulnerable to injury than those of an adult. Because the pediatric nervous system continues to grow, pediatric brain and spine trauma requires specialized evaluation and treatment by an experienced pediatric neurosurgeon in NJ.
Children differ from adults in several important ways:
- Developing Brain: A child’s brain is still growing, making it more susceptible to traumatic injury.
- Thinner Skull Bones: Children’s skulls are thinner and more flexible, which can affect how head injuries occur and present.
- Flexible Spine: The spine and supporting ligaments are more flexible, increasing the risk of certain spinal cord injuries that may not be immediately visible.
- Different Injury Patterns: Brain and spine injuries in children may appear differently on imaging studies than they do in adults.
- Specialized Treatment: Care from experienced pediatric neurosurgeons in New Jersey ensures an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to a child’s developing nervous system.
- Early Care Matters: Prompt evaluation and treatment can reduce the risk of long-term neurological complications and support the best possible recovery after pediatric brain and spine trauma.
Meet Our Expert Team
Board Certified Expert
At ANA — Movement. Vitality. Medicine., we are committed to providing exceptional pain, vein, and wellness services that empower individuals to reclaim their health and well-being. With our team of Harvard-trained experts, we strive to deliver transformative outcomes that restore comfort, confidence, and quality of life. ANA stands for our mission to help every patient relieve discomfort, restore motion, and renew life.
Meleine Martínez-Sosa, MD, FAANS
Pediatric & Adult Neurosurgeon
Kevin D. Wojcik, DO
Complex Spine Neurosurgeon
Types of Brain Trauma We Treat
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when a sudden blow or impact damages the brain. It can range from a mild injury to a life-threatening condition. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for the best possible recovery.
Common causes:
- Falls
- Sports injuries
- Car accidents
- Playground accidents
Possible symptoms:
- Headache
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Sleepiness
- Loss of consciousness
Concussion
A concussion is the most common type of mild traumatic brain injury in children. It can occur after a hit to the head or a sudden movement that causes the brain to move inside the skull.
Signs of a concussion include:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Trouble concentrating
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Feeling tired or dizzy
Most children recover well with rest and proper medical care. Our neurosurgeons evaluate each child to rule out more serious injuries and provide guidance for a safe return to normal activities.
Skull Fractures
A skull fracture is a crack or break in the skull caused by a strong impact. Some fractures heal on their own, while others require surgery.
Types of skull fractures:
- Linear fracture: A simple crack that usually heals without surgery.
- Depressed fracture: Part of the skull is pushed inward toward the brain.
- Basilar fracture: A fracture at the base of the skull that requires careful evaluation.
Our team determines the most appropriate treatment based on the child’s injury.
Epidural Hematoma
An epidural hematoma is a collection of blood between the skull and the protective covering of the brain. It can develop quickly after a head injury and increase pressure inside the skull.
Symptoms may include:
- Severe headache
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Loss of consciousness
This condition requires immediate medical attention and may need emergency surgery.
Subdural Hematoma
A subdural hematoma develops when blood collects beneath the brain’s outer protective covering. It is usually caused by torn blood vessels after a head injury.
Treatment depends on the severity and may include:
- Careful observation
- Repeat imaging
- Medication
- Surgery to remove the blood and reduce pressure on the brain
Prompt evaluation helps reduce the risk of serious complications.
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) is a severe brain injury caused by sudden twisting or shaking of the head. The force damages nerve fibers throughout the brain, affecting communication between brain cells.
Children with DAI may experience:
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty waking up
- Problems with movement or speech
- Memory and thinking difficulties
- Changes in behavior
Treatment focuses on stabilizing the child, protecting the brain from further injury, and supporting recovery through rehabilitation and ongoing neurological care.
Types of Spine Trauma We Treat
Cervical Spine Injuries
The cervical spine (neck) is the most commonly injured part of the spine in young children. Because children have larger and heavier heads compared to their bodies, their necks experience greater stress during an injury.
Common cervical spine injuries include:
Ligament sprains and strains
Fractures (broken bones)
Dislocations
Injuries that affect spinal stability
Symptoms may include:
Neck pain
Limited neck movement
Weakness or numbness
Difficulty walking
Loss of balance
Early diagnosis and treatment help protect the spinal cord and reduce the risk of long-term complications.
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
A spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is damaged. This can affect movement, feeling, and normal body functions below the injury.
Possible symptoms include:
Weakness or paralysis
Loss of sensation
Difficulty controlling the bladder or bowels
Trouble breathing in severe cases
Treatment may include:
Emergency evaluation
Surgery to relieve pressure on the spinal cord
Spinal stabilization
Physical and rehabilitation therapy
Our neurosurgeons work closely with pediatric rehabilitation specialists to support recovery at every stage.
Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormality (SCIWORA)
SCIWORA is a condition seen mostly in children. The spinal cord is injured even though X-rays or CT scans appear normal. This happens because a child’s spine is more flexible than an adult’s.
Diagnosis often requires:
MRI imaging
A detailed neurological examination
Evaluation by a pediatric neurosurgeon
Early diagnosis is important to prevent further injury and begin the right treatment as soon as possible.
Vertebral Fractures
A vertebral fracture is a break in one or more bones of the spine. The severity can range from mild to serious.
Common causes include:
Falls
Sports injuries
Motor vehicle accidents
High-impact trauma
Treatment depends on the injury and may include:
Bracing or immobilization
Pain management
Activity restrictions
Surgery for unstable fractures
Our team creates a personalized treatment plan to protect the spinal cord and help children recover safely.
Visual Suggestions
Pediatric spine anatomy illustration
Diagram showing the cervical spine
SCI vs. SCIWORA comparison graphic
Treatment pathway infographic (Diagnosis → MRI → Treatment → Rehabilitation)
Icons for Falls, Sports Injuries, Car Accidents, and Emergency Care
Diagnosis
Quick and accurate diagnosis is essential after a brain or spine injury. Our team uses advanced imaging and neurological evaluations to identify the injury and develop the right treatment plan.
Your child’s evaluation may include:
- CT scan: Checks for bleeding, skull fractures, and other serious injuries.
- MRI scan: Provides detailed images of the brain, spinal cord, and soft tissues.
- Neurological examination: Evaluates movement, sensation, reflexes, balance, and overall nerve function.
Our pediatric neurosurgeons are experienced in reading children’s imaging studies. They understand the normal changes that occur as a child grows, helping ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type of injury, its location, and how severe it is. Our team creates a personalized treatment plan based on your child’s condition and recovery needs.
Treatment options may include:
- Close monitoring for mild injuries
- Medications to manage symptoms and reduce swelling
- Surgery to remove blood clots or relieve pressure on the brain
- Spinal cord decompression surgery, when needed
- Spinal stabilization procedures for serious spine injuries
- Rehabilitation to support recovery and improve function
At Advanced Neurosurgery Associates, every child receives individualized care. Our neurosurgeons work closely with other specialists and keep families informed throughout the treatment and recovery process.
Caring for NJ Families When It Matters Most
We understand that a traumatic injury to your child is one of the most frightening experiences a family can face. Advanced Neurosurgery Associates has four offices across New Jersey — in Rutherford, Jersey City, New Brunswick, and Morristown — and our surgeons are experienced in managing the most complex pediatric brain and spine trauma cases.
Whether you are seeking a second opinion, a post-acute evaluation, or urgent neurosurgical consultation, we are here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pediatric brain and spine trauma?
Pediatric brain and spine trauma refers to injuries affecting a child’s brain, skull, spinal cord, or spine caused by falls, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, or other traumatic events. Prompt evaluation is important to reduce the risk of serious complications.
What are the signs of a traumatic brain injury in a child?
Signs may include severe headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness, confusion, dizziness, seizures, unusual sleepiness, changes in behavior, or difficulty walking or speaking. Seek immediate medical care if these symptoms occur after a head injury.
When should my child see a pediatric neurosurgeon after a head or spine injury?
Your child should see a pediatric neurosurgeon if they have a serious head or spine injury, persistent neurological symptoms, or abnormal imaging results, or if emergency physicians recommend a specialist evaluation.
How is pediatric brain and spine trauma diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically includes a physical and neurological examination along with imaging studies such as CT scans or MRI to evaluate the brain, skull, spine, or spinal cord and determine the extent of the injury.
Does every child with a brain or spine injury need surgery?
No. Many children recover with observation, medication, and rehabilitation. Surgery is recommended only when necessary to relieve pressure on the brain or spinal cord, repair fractures, or treat severe traumatic injuries.
What is the recovery process after pediatric brain and spine trauma?
Recovery depends on the type and severity of the injury. Some children recover within weeks, while others may require rehabilitation, physical therapy, and ongoing follow-up with a pediatric neurosurgeon to support long-term neurological recovery.
Brain & Spine Trauma Care Across New Jersey
If your child has sustained a head or spine injury and you need expert neurosurgical evaluation, contact us today.