title: Summary of the National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement on the acute management of the cervical spine-injured athlete.
abstract: The incidence of catastrophic cervical spine injury in sports is low compared with other injuries. However, cervical spine injuries necessitate delicate and precise management, often involving the combined efforts of a variety of health care providers. The outcome of a catastrophic cervical spine injury depends on the efficiency of this management process and timeliness of transfer to a controlled environment for diagnosis and treatment. The objective of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) position statement on the acute care of the cervical spine-injured athlete is to provide the certified athletic trainer, team physician, emergency responder, and other health care professionals with recommendations on how to best manage a catastrophic cervical spine injury in an athlete. Recommendations are based on current evidence pertaining to prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of cervical spine injuries in sport; emergency planning and preparation to increase management efficiency; maintaining or creating neutral alignment in the cervical spine; accessing and maintaining the airway; stabilizing and transferring the athlete with a suspected cervical spine injury; managing the athlete participating in an equipment-laden sport such as football, hockey, or lacrosse; and imaging considerations in the emergency department.
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA. eswartz@unh.edu
authors.forename: Erik E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Decoster
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Norkus
authors.forename: Barry P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Boden
authors.forename: Kevin N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Waninger
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Courson
authors.forename: Marybeth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horodyski
authors.forename: Robb S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rehberg
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D006801:Humans; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D013178:Sports Medicine