title: On-the-field evaluation of an athlete with a head or neck injury.
abstract: Head and cervical spine sports-related injuries are intimately associated. The on-field evaluation and management of the athlete with these injuries is of paramount importance to stabilize the athlete and prevent further injury. Clinicians need to be aware of the differential diagnoses and consider each possibility based on the mechanism of injury. Although recognition of head and cervical spine injuries has resulted in significant reductions of catastrophic neurological injuries, especially in the cervical spine, further advances to decrease the incidence and long-term sequelae of head and neck injuries are needed. The first step is education of the athlete and the individuals involved in the care of that athlete.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Box 956902, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghiselli
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schaadt
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: McAllister
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012008:Recurrence; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D019876:Sports Equipment; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology