An athlete engaged in a collision sport like football is at risk for catastrophic cervical neck injuries.
Catastrophic neck injuries are associated with a structural distortion of the cervical spine with damage to the spinal cord.
Most cataatrophic cervical injuries involve C4, C5 and or C6.
Catastrophic outcomes may include:
(1) paralysis, especially quadriplegia
(2) death
Factors complicating response to the injury:
(1) presence of protective gear such as helmet and shoulder pads
(2) ability of immediate responders to reach the athlete
(3) availability of suitable devices to stabilize the cervical spine
(4) moving the athlete without stabilizing the spine
An initially minor injury can become major if the athlete is not managed properly.
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Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic
