Gaslini Institute: Five-year-old regains ability to walk after spinal injury

A five-year-old girl from Mollaro has regained the ability to walk three months after a severe road accident. Following the incident, the child suffered a rapid decline in health, resulting in a near-total loss of movement in her arms and legs.

Medical examinations at the Gaslini Institute in Genoa revealed a fracture of both pedicles of the second cervical vertebra, causing significant spinal instability, spinal cord contusion, and extensive edema between the second and sixth cervical vertebrae. To avoid immediate surgical risks to the spinal cord, doctors utilized a Halo device for immobilization.

The recovery process included intensive anti-edema therapy and fifteen sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the San Martino polyclinic to treat the nerve tissue damage while maintaining rigid spinal stabilization.