Self-injurious behavior in children and adolescents with spinal cord injuries

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of self-injurious behavior in four children and adolescents with spinal cord injuries (SCI). OBJECTIVES: To report a relatively unusual complication of pediatric-onset SCI, focusing on the potential role that dysesthesia may play in self-injurious behavior. SETTING: A Spinal Cord Injury Program in a Children's Hospital in Chicago that serves children from midwestern and south-central United States of America. METHOD: Case reports and literature review. RESULTS: Case reports are presented of four children or adolescents with SCI who exhibited self-injurious behavior. Two of the subjects had symptoms consistent with dysesthesia. The self-injurious behavior in these two subjects and a very young child responded to treatment with anticonvulsants. The self-injurious behavior in the fourth patient was probably the result of poor technique of using his mouth to move his hands, which responded to conservative management including education, occupational therapy and gloves. CONCLUSION: Self-injurious behavior is a relatively unusual complication of pediatric onset SCI, and may be a manifestation of dysesthesia and be responsive to treatment with anticonvulsants.