Canadian Medical Association Journal, Vol 130, Issue 7 875-880, Copyright © 1984 by Canadian Medical Association

JOURNAL ARTICLE

National survey of spinal injuries in hockey players

C. H. Tator and V. E. Edmonds

There has been an alarming increase in the number of spinal injuries in hockey players. Between 1976 and 1983, 42 were reported to the Committee on Prevention of Spinal Injuries due to Hockey. The median age of the injured players was 17 years. Of the 42 players 28 had spinal cord injuries, and 17 of them had complete paralysis below the vertebral level of the injury. Strikes from behind and collisions with the boards were common mechanisms of injury. Many of the players had suffered a burst fracture of the cervical spine following a blow to the top of the helmet when the neck was slightly flexed. The committee studied a number of possible etiologic factors and made several recommendations regarding prevention. League officials, coaches, players and equipment manufacturers can all play a role in prevention.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. D. Noakes and C. E Draper Preventing spinal cord injuries in rugby union BMJ, June 2, 2007; 334(7604): 1122 - 1123. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Emery and W. H. Meeuwisse Injury Rates, Risk Factors, and Mechanisms of Injury in Minor Hockey Am. J. Sports Med., December 1, 2006; 34(12): 1960 - 1969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. G. Hostetler, H. Xiang, and G. A. Smith Characteristics of Ice Hockey-Related Injuries Treated in US Emergency Departments, 2001-2002 Pediatrics, December 1, 2004; 114(6): e661 - e666. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D J Cook, M D Cusimano, C H Tator, M L Chipman, and C Macarthur Evaluation of the ThinkFirst Canada, Smart Hockey, brain and spinal cord injury prevention video * COMMENTARY Inj. Prev., December 1, 2003; 9(4): 361 - 366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Torg, J. T. Guille, and S. Jaffe Injuries to the Cervical Spine in American Football Players J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., January 1, 2002; 84(1): 112 - 122. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. F. LaPrade, K. A. Schnetzler, R. J. Broxterman, F. Wentorf, E. Wendland, and T. J. Gilbert Cervical Spine Alignment in the Immobilized Ice Hockey Player: A Computed Tomographic Analysis of the Effects of Helmet Removal Am. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2000; 28(6): 800 - 803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. H. Tator, J. D. Carson, and R. Cushman Hockey injuries of the spine in Canada, 1966-1996 Can. Med. Assoc. J., March 1, 2000; 162(6): 787 - 788. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness Safety in Youth Ice Hockey: The Effects of Body Checking Pediatrics, March 1, 2000; 105(3): 657 - 658. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. D. Reynen and W. G. Clancy Jr. Cervical Spine Injury, Hockey Helmets, and Face Masks Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 1994; 22(2): 167 - 170. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. L. Pelletier, W. J. Montelpare, and R. M. Stark Intercollegiate ice hockey injuries: A case for uniform definitions and reports Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 1993; 21(1): 78 - 81. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. D. Brust, B. J. Leonard, A. Pheley, and W. O. Roberts Children's Ice Hockey Injuries Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 1992; 146(6): 741 - 747. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. H. Leggett, J. E. Graves, M. L. Pollock, M. Shank, D. M. Carpenter, B. Holmes, and M. Fulton Quantitative assessment and training of isometric cervical extension strength Am. J. Sports Med., December 1, 1991; 19(6): 653 - 659. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. S. Torg, H. Pavlov, M. J. O'Neill, C. E. Nichols III, and B. Sennett The axial load teardrop fracture: A biomechanical, clinical, and roentgenographic analysis Am. J. Sports Med., July 1, 1991; 19(4): 355 - 364. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. S. Torg, J. J. Vegso, M. J. O'Neill, and B. Sennett The epidemiologic, pathologic, biomechanical, and cinematographic analysis of football-induced cervical spine trauma Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 1990; 18(1): 50 - 57. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Lorentzon, H. Wedren, T. Pietila, and B. Gustavsson Injuries in international ice hockey: A prospective, comparative study of injury incidence and injury types in international and Swedish elite ice hockey Am. J. Sports Med., July 1, 1988; 16(4): 389 - 391. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Lorentzon, H. Wedren, and T. Pietila Incidence, nature, and causes of ice hockey injuries: A three-year prospective study of a Swedish elite ice hockey team Am. J. Sports Med., July 1, 1988; 16(4): 392 - 396. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L.B. Lehman Nervous system sports-related injuries Am. J. Sports Med., September 1, 1987; 15(5): 494 - 499. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. H. Sim, W. T. Simonet, L. J. Melton III, and T. A. Lehn Ice hockey injuries Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 1987; 15(1): 30 - 40. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. S. Torg, J. J. Vegso, B. Sennett, and M. Das The National Football Head and Neck Injury Registry: 14-Year Report on Cervical Quadriplegia, 1971 Through 1984 JAMA, December 27, 1985; 254(24): 3439 - 3443. [Abstract] [PDF]

HOME	CURRENT ISSUE	PAST ISSUES	COLLECTIONS	HELP	SEARCH
Copyright 1995-1984, Canadian Medical Association. All rights reserved. ISSN 1488-2329 (e) 0820-3946 (p) All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association.