Abstract
The patient with cervical column and cord injuries due to sports in middle and high school, who might be rapidly growing physically but still immature mentally, were analyzed from different angles. In addition, the measures of its prevention were discussed. All of the 12 patients were male; 2 middle school boys and 10 high school boys. The sorts of sports, mechanism of injury and levels of injury were demonstrated.
One patient had occipitoatlantal dislocation related to Judo practice. One patient had atlantoaxial subluxation related to traffic accident during jogging. Two patients had atlantoaxial dislocation with os odontoideum; one of whom related to throwing in Sumo and another one kicking in soccer. One patient had hangman-like fracture by extension-axial compression force related to falling in gymnastics. Two patients had C5 vertebral bursting fracture related to diving in the sea. One patient had C4 & 5 vertebral compression fracture related to falling in skateboard. One patient had C4-5 anterior dislocation by hyperflexion mechanism related to falling in gymnastics. One patient had C5 & 6 compression fracture related to falling in gymnastics. One patient had C6 bursting fracture by axial compression force related to sliding in baseball. One patient had C6-7 unilateral anterior dislocation by flexion-rotation force related to scrumming in rugby-foot-ball.
One patient died from respiratory-circulatory failure resulting from the damage of the brainstem and the upper cervical cord. One of the 2 patients with complete paralysis returned home and another one was moved to rehabilitation center. 9 patients with incomplete paralysis returned to school 3 to 4 months after injury.
The measures toward its prevention were discussed from the viewpoints of the characteristics and sports ability of individual person, athletic environment, protective gear and rules of contact sports and roles of coach, trainer and doctor who train the passive students with insufficient judgement.
