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Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine
Published in: Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine 4/2014

01-12-2014 | Field Management of Sports Injuries (J Kinderknecht, Section Editor)

Spinal trauma

Authors: Jim Ellis, Ron Courson, Brian Daniels

Published in: Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine | Issue 4/2014

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Abstract

The practice of spinal immobilization has existed since the 1960s under the premise that trauma victims with cervical spine injuries may suffer neurologic injury if moved without stabilization consisting of a rigid cervical collar and long spine board. Because of this assumption, it is of particular importance to assess for movement of the cervical spine with and without spinal immobilization. Over time, the on-field management of athletes with a mechanism consistent with spinal cord injury (SCI) has evolved and produced protocols that can be considered standard of care. Attempts to find evidencebased research to verify the necessity of a rigid collar and long spine board as the only option in athletic medicine for suspected SCI is difficult. As changes occur in the Emergency Medical Services standards, there will be opportunities to see how their processes relate to athletes and the rationale for immobilization on the field of play. Going forward, there could very well be a significant change in the approach to and management of the athlete down on the field of play with a suspected spinal cord injury.
Literature
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Jacobson B, Cendoma M, Gdovan J, Cooney K, Bruening D. Cervical spine motion during football equipment-removal protocols: a challenge to the all or nothing endeavor. J Athl Train. 2014;49:42. Recent article that challenges what most consider the standard of care.PubMedCrossRef
2.••
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35.••
Reifsteck F, Walpert K, Courson R, Henry G. University of Georgia Sports Medicine Spine Injury Management Protocol. 2012. Excellent protocol for dealing with the athlete suspected of having a spinal cord injury outlining approach and steps in immobilization.
36.••
Courson R, Mandelbaum B, Lemak L. Adopt a “Time-Out” system before sporting events. National Athletic Association Statement. 2012. Simple but excellent suggestion to take time to refresh everyone’s mind on the medical team before an event and review the EAP.
Metadata
Title
Spinal trauma
Authors
Jim Ellis
Ron Courson
Brian Daniels
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine / Issue 4/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1935-9748
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-014-9235-x

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