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Cervical Spine Injuries in Sports

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Head and Neck Injuries in Young Athletes

Part of the book series: Contemporary Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine ((PASM))

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Abstract

The range of cervical spine injuries in young athletes covers a wide spectrum. With more mild injuries such as muscle strain or contusion, the athlete typically reports localized pain and stiffness lasting days to weeks with no neurologic symptoms. More severe injuries involving fracture or ligamentous disruption with nerve root or spinal cord injury can occur and require further evaluation, imaging, and treatment before considering return to competition. Although rare, cervical spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating in sports, often resulting in permanent impairment. As such, accurate on the field assessment of the athlete with suspected cervical injury, appropriate initial treatment and triage, and prompt definitive medical/surgical care are important. This chapter will review the evaluation and initial treatment of a young athlete with a cervical spine injury and discuss return-to-play considerations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH, 03755, USA

    Robert V. Cantu MD, MS

  2. Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA, 01742, USA

    Robert C. Cantu MD, FACS, FACSM

  3. Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Robert C. Cantu MD, FACS, FACSM

Authors
  1. Robert V. Cantu MD, MS
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  2. Robert C. Cantu MD, FACS, FACSM
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert V. Cantu MD, MS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sports Medicine, Childrens Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Michael O'Brien

  2. The Micheli Center for Sports Injur , Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

    William P. Meehan III

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Cantu, R.V., Cantu, R.C. (2016). Cervical Spine Injuries in Sports. In: O'Brien, M., Meehan III, W. (eds) Head and Neck Injuries in Young Athletes. Contemporary Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23549-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23549-3_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-23548-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-23549-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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