title: Association of burners with cervical canal and foraminal stenosis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the burner phenomenon is associated with cervical canal and foraminal stenosis in a scholastic population. Lateral cervical radiographs were reviewed for 64 athletes, 15 to 18 years of age, who had sustained at least one burner. Controls consisted of age-matched athletes who had sustained head or neck trauma without evidence of the burner phenomenon (N = 32). Pavlov ratios were calculated for levels C-3 through C-6; both mean minimum and mean average ratios were determined. Available oblique radiographs from both the study (N = 31) and control (N = 15) groups were then used to calculate the foramen/vertebral body ratio--a measure of relative foraminal height. Significant differences were found between the burner and control groups for the mean minimum and mean average Pavlov ratios and foramen/vertebral body ratios. Scholastic athletes sustaining the burner phenomenon have an increased risk of cervical canal and foraminal stenosis as measured by the Pavlov and foramen/vertebral body ratios, respectively. The foramen/vertebral body ratio is an easily reproducible and reliable means of assessing foraminal dimensions from oblique radiographs and controls for x-ray magnification and rotation. Foraminal stenosis assessment may prove useful in predicting burner risk, especially in athletes with extension-compression injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aliquo
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sitler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Odgers
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Moyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology*