Summary
Cervical disk injuries are defined as a cervical injury associated with neurological deficits, radicular symptoms, or radiological evidence of disk degeneration, but not with a fracture or a dislocation of the cervical spine. Thirty cases covering the period from July 1982 to June 1984 were analyzed, and the following findings are presented. Fifty percent of the injuries were sustained in American football. Sixty percent of radicular signs and symptoms were from the fourth and fifth cervical root. The roentgenographic changes were most common at the fourth and fifth intervertebral disk spaces. Most of the cases responded satisfactorily to a simple cervical collar and cervical traction. The athletes who presented radicular signs and symptoms required 5 months to return to full sports activities, and 60% of these had some residual symptoms after completion of treatment. The athletes who had a block vertebra of the cervical spine were not suited for contact sports. Recognition of the seriousness of cervical disk injuries in athletes is emphasized.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albright JP, Moses JM, Feldick HG, Dolan KD, Burmeister LF (1976) Non-fatal cervical spine injuries in interscholastic football. JAMA 236:1243–1245
Bauze RJ, Ardran GM (1978) Experimental production of forward dislocation in the human cervical spine. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 60:239–245
Bedbrook GM (1971) Stability of cervical fractures and fracture-dislocations. Paraplegia 9:23–32
Hensinger RN, MacEwen GD (1982) Klippel-Feil syndrome. In: Rothman RH, Simeone FA (eds) The spine. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 216–233
Johnson RN, Southwick WO (1982) Function and surgical anatomy of the neck. In: Rothman RH, Simeone FA (eds) The spine. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 67–70
Kidokoro Y (1979) Cervical cord injuries in sports (in Japanese). Seikeigeka 30:629–637
Nagel DA, Koogle TA, Piziall RL, Perkash I (1981) Stability of the lumbar spine following progressive disruptions and the applications of individual internal and external devices. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 63:62–70
Russell EJ, D'Angelo CM, Zimmerman RD, Czervionke LF, Huckman MS (1984) Cervical disc herniation: CT demonstration after contrast enhancement. Radiology 152:703–712
Simeone FA, Rothman RH (1982) Cervical disk disease. In: Rothman RH, Simeone FA (eds) The spine. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 440–472
Torg J (1982) Athletic injuries to the head, neck and face. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, pp 139–209
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kumano, K., Umeyama, T. Cervical disk injuries in athletes. Arch. Orth. Traum. Surg. 105, 223–226 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435485
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435485