Brain and Spine

A head or spinal cord injury can be scary for children and parents. If a child experiences a traumatic brain or spine injury, Intermountain Healthcare’s specialists can provide the latest in evaluation and treatment. Learn more about Intermountain’s brain and spine specialists.

A head or spinal cord injury can be scary for children and parents. Young athletes are especially prone to head and spine injuries while on the playing field. Other brain problems, such as epilepsy, can begin to develop during childhood.

The brain and spinal cord are part of the central nervous system (CNS). The central nervous system acts like a highway between the brain and body. The brain will send and receive signals through the spinal cord. Any disruptions to these signals as a result of an injury or disease may interfere with a child’s development. The human brain will continue to develop through childhood and into early adulthood.

If a child experiences a traumatic brain or spine injury, you can rely on Intermountain Healthcare’s board-certified specialists for evaluation and comprehensive treatment options. These specialists will also diagnose and treat the following conditions:

• Concussion
• Migraine headaches
• Brain tumors
• Myelomeningocele
• Seizures
• Spina bifida

Things You Need To Know

Intermountain Healthcare’s pediatric Brain and Spine Center uses the latest diagnostic and treatment technology for young patients. Our specialists work alongside pediatric neurologists [noo-ROL-uh-jists] — doctors who specialize in brain and nervous system problems — to determine the best treatment plan for each child. Tools for diagnosis and treatment include:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Transmagentic Stimulation (TMS)
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) 

Head injuries are one of the most common causes of disability and even death in children. Spine injuries can also lead to permanent disabilities. If a child suffers a head injury (traumatic brain injury or a concussion) or a spine injury, it is important to have them evaluated immediately.

Other symptoms that may warrant a phone call to your child’s physician include:

• Reoccurring headaches
• Delays in developmental milestones
• Seizures
• Changes in a child’s level of consciousness or mood
• Slurred speech
• Being unusually clumsy
• Numbness in hands or legs

Changes in how well a child can see