HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Torg, J. S. Articles by Glasgow, S. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Torg, J. S. Articles by Glasgow, S. G.

Spear tackler's spine

An entity precluding participation in tackle football and collision activities that expose the cervical spine to axial energy inputs

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Brian Sennett, MD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Helene Pavlov, MD

Department of Radiology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York

Marvin R. Leventhal, MD

Campbell Clinic, Memphis, Tennessee

Steven G. Glasgow, MD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We describe spear tackler's spine, a clinical entity that constitutes an absolute contraindication to participation in tackle football and other collision activities that ex pose the cervical spine to axial energy inputs. A subset of football players were identified who demonstrated: 1) developmental narrowing (stenosis) of the cervical canal; 2) persistent straightening or reversal of the normal cervical lordotic curve on erect lateral roentgen ograms obtained in the neutral position; 3) concomitant preexisting posttraumatic roentgenographic abnormal ities of the cervical spine; and 4) documentation of having employed spear tackling techniques. From data obtained by the National Football Head and Neck Injury Registry and the senior author's practice, 15 cases of spear tackler's spine were identified during 1987 to 1990.

All 15 cases were evaluated because of complaints referable to the cervical spine or brachial plexus result ing from football injuries. Of these, 11 had complete neurologic recovery without permanent sequelae. Four cases resulted in permanent neurologic deficits: quad riplegia, 2; incomplete hemiplegia, 1; and residual long track signs, 1. Permanent neurologic injury occurred as the result of axial loading of a persistently straightened cervical spine from use of head-impact playing tech niques. We suggest that individuals who possess the aforementioned characteristics of spear tackler's spine be precluded from participation in collision activities that expose the cervical spine to axial energy inputs.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. D. Brigham, R. Warren, and J. S. Torg Head to Head on Spear Tackler's Spine: Criteria and Implications for Return to Play J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., January 29, 2003; 85(2): 381 - 383. [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]

				F. P. Castro Jr, J. Ricciardi, M. E. Brunet, M. T. Busch, and T. S. Whitecloud Stingers, the Torg Ratio, and the Cervical Spine Am. J. Sports Med., September 1, 1997; 25(5): 603 - 608. [Abstract] [PDF]