title: Screening for catastrophic neck injuries in sports.
abstract: The cervical spine is prone to injury due to the structure of the articulating vertebrae at the level of C4-C6, where the spinal cord occupies more of the spinal canal. Cervical spine injuries can occur in all sports and all ages. Participation in contact sports certainly increases the possibility of cervical spine injuries. In screening for catastrophic neck injuries it is vital to examine incidence and injury surveillance statistics in sports. These data can help determine sport-specific preponderance of catastrophic injury. Screening methods for predisposition to catastrophic cervical spine injuries include a concise history, physical examination, and radiographic methods. There is currently no universal classification system utilizing imaging of the cervical spine that has been validated as a screening method for catastrophic neck injuries.
authors.affiliation: Women's Sports Medicine at Chippenham & Johnston Willis Sports, Medicine, 1429 Johnston-Willis, Richmond, VA 23235, USA. Katherine.Dec@HCAHealthcare.com
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Dec
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dec
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries; D002388:Catastrophic Illness / Q000628:therapy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013177:Sports; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000592:standards