Neurosurgical Emergencies in Sport

Sports related severe brain and spinal cord injuries are medical and potentially surgical emergencies that require timely intervention in order to reduce worsening secondary injury. For this reason, it is important for all medical professionals managing athletic injuries to be knowledgeable in the clinical approach to this type of acute event. This article reviews the initial evaluation of the athlete that occurs on the field and also within the emergency department with a focus on presenting clinical signs of a neurosurgical emergency. We present a basic overview of the types of intracranial injuries requiring emergent neurosurgical intervention.