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Spinal injuries in ice hockey
C H Tator1, J D Carson, V E Edmonds
1SportSmart Canada, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Clinics in Sports Medicine
|February 26, 1998
Summary
Hockey-related spinal injuries, primarily cervical, affect young players aged 16-20. Prevention programs may be reducing the incidence of these serious injuries, often caused by checking from behind.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- SportSmart Canada has tracked hockey spinal injuries since 1966.
- 214 cases of spinal fracture or dislocation have been documented, predominantly in North America.
- Cervical spine injuries are most common in supervised games.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in hockey-related spinal injuries.
- To identify key causes and demographics of spinal trauma in hockey.
- To assess the impact of prevention programs on injury rates.
Main Methods:
- Data compilation from the SportSmart Canada registry.
- Analysis of injury types, locations, player demographics, and game circumstances.
- Examination of injury trends over time.
Main Results:
- An estimated 15 new cases of spinal injury occur annually.
- The incidence of these injuries may be decreasing due to prevention efforts.
- Checking from behind leading to head impact with boards is a significant cause, particularly for injuries with neurological deficits.
Conclusions:
- Hockey poses a risk for severe spinal injuries, especially to the cervical spine in young adult players.
- Ongoing prevention initiatives appear to be contributing to a potential decline in injury rates.
- Further research and continued prevention strategies are crucial to mitigate these risks.