Spinal injuries in contact sports.
Contact and collision sports such as American football expose the athlete to a wide array of potential injuries. Knee injuries garner much of the attention, but spinal injuries are potentially catastrophic and all levels of medical coverage of football must be knowledgeable and prepared to attend to an athlete with a neck injury. Of the other possible spinal conditions, some resolve on their own, others might require conservative therapy, and still others might require surgical intervention. The spectrum of potential injury is wide, yet the medical team must practice and prepare to treat the possible catastrophic neck injury.
Duke University Medical Center, Box 3639, Durham, NC 27710, USA. wilso199@mc.duke.edu
Joseph B
JB
Wilson
Robert
R
Zarzour
Claude T
CT
Moorman
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors