Sports-related Neck Injuries

Sports can contribute to neck injuries of varying degrees of severity, from neck fractures to cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs). A fractured (broken) neck is a very serious matter, but in many cases, the patient can make a full recovery and regain all neurological function. A neck fracture can sometimes lead to a complete SCI, which will result in some degree of paralysis or even death.

Sports-related cervical injuries can be categorized in the following terms:

• Acute cervical sprains/strains including whiplash injury
• Cervical fractures and dislocations
• Nerve root or brachial plexus injuries
• Intervertebral disc injuries
• Cervical stenosis

Fractured or Broken Neck
A neck fracture is a break in one or more of the cervical bones (vertebrae in the neck). A person with a neck injury should not be moved without competent medical care, which should be summoned immediately. It is important to recognize the possibility of a neck fracture. Injuries severe enough to cause head injury or other trauma often also cause neck fracture.

A severe, sudden twist to the neck or a severe blow to the head or neck area can cause a neck fracture. Sports involving violent physical contact carry a greater risk of neck fracture, including football, ice hockey, rugby, and wrestling. Spearing an opponent in football or rugby can cause a broken neck. Neck fractures are also related to several non-contact sports such as skiing, swimming, diving, surfing, power weightlifting, and horseback riding.

Prevalence of Neck Injuries in the US
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tracks product-related injuries through its National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). According to the CPSC, there were an estimated 11,464 neck fractures treated at US hospital emergency rooms in 2007. Of these, an estimated 2,751 were sports-related.

The actual incidence of neck injuries may potentially be much higher for two primary reasons.

1. In the 2007 report, the CPSC excluded estimates for product categories that yielded 1,200 injuries or less, those that had very small sample counts, or those that were limited to a small geographic area of the country.
   
2. Many less severe neck injuries, such as sprains, are treated at physician's offices, immediate care centers, or self-treated.

Included in the sports statistics are not only the sports/recreational activities, but the equipment and apparel used in these activities. For example, swimming-related injuries include the activity as well as diving boards, equipment, flotation devices, pools, and water slides.

Signs and Symptoms of Broken/Fractured Neck

• Pain, which may or may not be severe
• Pain radiating from the neck down to the shoulders and/or arms
• Swelling and bruising " Tenderness
• Decreased feeling in the arms, legs or body
• Muscle weakness or paralysis of the arms or legs

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Neurosurgerytoday.org
Sports-related Neck Injury, September 2008

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