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New spinal injuries in hockey
C H Tator1, J D Carson, V E Edmonds
1SportSmart Canada, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Summary
Major spinal injuries in ice hockey, particularly cervical spine fractures, affect young players. While prevention efforts show promise, overall injury rates remain stable.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Traumatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Ice hockey is associated with a significant risk of major spinal injuries.
- Understanding the patterns of these injuries is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature and incidence of major spinal injuries in ice hockey players.
- To contribute reported cases to a permanent registry for ongoing research.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of physician-reported spinal injuries in ice hockey.
- Data collected via questionnaires, primarily from Canada and other nations.
- Analysis of 241 reported cases of spinal fracture or dislocation.
Main Results:
- An average of 16.8 major ice hockey-related spinal injuries were reported annually between 1982 and 1993.
- Cervical spine injuries were common, particularly in players aged 16-20 during supervised games.
- Registry data includes incidence, mortality, injury mechanisms, and neurological deficits.
Conclusions:
- Prevention programs are showing effectiveness in reducing severe injuries and those from "checks from behind".
- Despite targeted prevention, a significant decrease in the total annual number of reported spinal injuries has not yet been observed.