Cervical Spine Injuries

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Cervical Spine Injuries
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The Cervical Spine

• Vertebrae
• 7 cervical
• 12 thoracic
• 5 lumbar
• 5 sacral
• 4 coccyx

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Anatomy of Cervical Vertebrae
Odontoid Process (Dens) of Axis
Anterior Arch of Atlas
Superior Articular
Facet
Transverse Process
Transverse Foramen
C1-C2 Facet
Inferior Articular Process
Body of Axis
Posterior Arch of Atlas
Lamina
Bifid Spinous Process
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Dermatomes
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Cervical Sprain

• Facet Joint Injury
• Mechanism of Injury
• Generally the same mechanism as a strain
• More violent
• Involves a snapping of the head and neck
• Ligaments injured
• Signs and Symptoms
• Similar signs and symptoms to a strain
• Tenderness facet joints and ligaments
• Pain will usually arise the day after the trauma
• Muscle spasms

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Cervical (Sprain)

• Management
• Severe injuries
• Activate EMS
• Refer to MD
• RICE for first 48-72 hours
• Bed rest if severe
• Rehabilitation
• Strengthening
• Restore ROM
• Review tackling techniques for football players

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Brachial Plexus Injuries(Burner/Stinger)

• Mechanism of Injury
• Lateral flexion
• Result of
• Stretching of the brachial plexus or
• Compression of the brachial plexus
• Disrupts peripheral nerve function

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Brachial Plexus Injury (Burner/Stinger)

• Signs and Symptoms
• Burning sensation
• Numbness and tingling from the shoulder into the
  hand
• Pain extending from the shoulder into the hand
• Some loss of function of the arm and hand for
  several minutes
• Dead arm feeling by athlete
• Symptoms rarely persist for several days
• Repeated injury can result in permanent damage

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Brachial Plexus Neurapraxia (Burner/Stinger)

• Management
• Assessment by medical personnel
• Ice
• Rest
• Strengthening and stretching program
• Return to activity once signs and symptoms have
  returned to normal
• Padding to limit neck ROM during impact

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Cervical Fractures

• Mechanism of Injury
• Usually axial load w/ some degree of cervical
  flexion
• Spearing
• Prevention
• Teach proper tackling technique
• (See what you hit)

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Cervical Fractures

• Signs and Symptoms
• Neck point tenderness
• Restricted motion
• Cervical muscle spasm
• Cervical pain
• Pain in the chest and extremities
• Numbness in the trunk and or limbs
• Weakness in the trunk and/or limbs
• Loss of bladder and bowel control

• Management
• Activate EMS (911)
• Treat like an unconscious athlete
• Use extreme care
• X-ray and physician referral
• Transport with extreme caution
• Minimize movement of cervical spine
• Cervical extrication collar
• Spine Board

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Cervical Dislocation

• Mechanism of Injury
• Usually violent flexion and rotation of the head

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Cervical Dislocation

• Signs and Symptoms
• Considerable pain
• Numbness
• Weakness or paralysis
• Management
• Extreme care must be used
• Do not straighten athletes neck
• Activate EMS (911)
• More likely to cause spinal cord injury than a
  fracture

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Log Roll onto Spine Board
Stabilize Head and Neck
Lifting Spine Board
2b
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5
5 Man Lift
Facemask Removal
2a
3
5
Strap to Board
Log Roll onto Spine Board
2b
4
5
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Strengthening Exercises

• Initiated when near normal range has been
  achieved
• Should be performed pain free
• Exercise progression
• Isometric
• Isotonic exercises