Letter to the Editor regarding “Return to Play Guidelines After Cervical Spine Injuries in American Football Athletes

Study Design: This review article examines the biomechanics that underly hockey-related cervical spine injuries, the preventative measures to curtail them, optimal management strategies for the injured player and return to play criteria. Objective: Hockey is a sport with one of the highest rates of cervical spine injury, but by understanding the underlying pathophysiology and context in which these injuries can occur, it is possible to reduce their incidence and successfully manage the injured player. Methods: Multiple online databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Columbia Libraries Catalog, Cochrane Library and Ovid MEDLINE were queried for original articles concerning spinal injuries in ice hockey. All relevant papers were screened and subsequently organized for discussion in our subtopics. Results: Cervical fractures in ice hockey most often occur due to an increased axial load, with a check from behind the most common precipitating event. Conclusions: Despite the recognized risk for cervical spine trauma in ice hockey, further research is still needed to optimize protocols for both mitigating injury risk and managing injured players.

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Return to play criteria for the athlete with cervical spine injuries resulting in stinger and transient quadriplegia/paresis

The Spine Journal ◽

10.1016/s1529-9430(02)00202-4 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 2 (5) ◽

pp. 351-356 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

Alexander R. Vaccaro ◽

Gregg R. Klein ◽

Michael Ciccoti ◽

William L. Pfaff ◽

Mark J.R. Moulton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Spine ◽

Return To Play ◽

Cervical Spine Injuries ◽

Spine Injuries

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Injuries to the head and cervical spine

10.1093/med/9780198757672.003.0046 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Robert V Cantu ◽

Robert C Cantu

Keyword(s):

Cervical Spine ◽

Brain Injuries ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Return To Play ◽

Spine Injury ◽

Young Athletes ◽

Cervical Spine Injuries ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Spine Injuries

Traumatic brain and cervical spine injuries in young athletes encompass a wide spectrum, with some injuries occurring in otherwise ‘safe’ sports, and others in high-risk sports where head and cervical spine injuries are the norm. Athletic brain injuries include concussion, intracranial haemorrhage, malignant brain oedema syndrome, and axonal shear. In the cervical spine, injuries include muscle strains, contusions, fractures, or ligamentous disruptions with nerve root or spinal cord injury. Knowledge of these injuries and their signs and symptoms is important for the physician covering a sporting contest or practice. Additionally, preparedness for potential head or cervical spine injury must be addressed by health professionals providing sporting event coverage. This chapter reviews how traumatic brain and cervical spine injuries typically occur in young athletes. It also discusses what the initial treatment of these injuries should entail, along with a discussion of return to play considerations.

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