Acute spine injuries in skiers and snowboarders

Skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports associated with significant traumatic spinal injuries. Despite a decline in most injuries related to these sports over the years, acute injury rates of the spine have remained stable and even increased. Vertebral fractures and spinal cord injuries are the most common serious acute injuries of the spine in skiers and snowboarders. Due to the unique characteristics of each sport, different injury mechanisms are responsible for the majority of injuries. This article reviews injury patterns, injury types, mechanisms of injury, and strategies for prevention of spine injuries in skiers and snowboarders.     

Malalignment: signs and significance

Malalignment of the vertebrae, in patients suspected of blunt spinal trauma, is the quintessential sign of spinal injury. Malalignment is obvious in displaced fractures and dislocations but is rarely considered in the diagnosis because of the obvious injury. In patients with more subtle injuries such as those limited to ligamentous structures, vertebral malalignment is the only radiographic sign that leads one to the recognition of the injury. Equally important is the fact that vertebral malalignment may be congenital and may be due to physiologic movement as well as radiographic patient positioning. Recognition of the pattern of traumatic malalignment as distinguished from the appearance of non-traumatic malalignment is essential to accurate radiologic diagnosis. Because malalignment is critical to the radiographic assessment of blunt cervical spine injury, this presentation is limited to the cervical spine. The format of the article includes signs of physiologic and traumatic malaignment as seen on antero-posterior and lateral radiographs of the cervico-cranium and the lower cervical spine.     

Traumatic injuries to the cervical spine

Nowhere in radiography are the standards for imaging more important than in dealing with traumatic spine injury. This article provides an overview of cervical spine trauma and specifically addresses various injuries and how to image them.     

Imaging in spinal trauma

Because it may cause paralysis, injury to the spine is one of the most feared traumas, and spinal cord injury is a major cause of disability. In the USA approximately 10,000 traumatic cervical spine fractures and 4000 traumatic thoracolumbar fractures are diagnosed each year. Although the number of individuals sustaining paralysis is far less than those with moderate or severe brain injury, the socioeconomic costs are significant. Since most of the spinal trauma patients survive their injuries, almost one out of 1000 inhabitants in the USA are currently being cared for partial or complete paralysis. Little controversy exists regarding the need for accurate and emergent imaging assessment of the traumatized spine in order to evaluate spinal stability and integrity of neural elements. Because clinicians fear missing occult spine injuries, they obtain radiographs for nearly all patients who present with blunt trauma. We are influenced on one side by fear of litigation and the possible devastating medical, psychologic and financial consequences of cervical spine injury, and on the other side by pressure to reduce health care costs. A set of clinical and/or anamnestic criteria, however, can be very useful in identifying patients who have an extremely low probability of injury and who consequently have no need for imaging studies. Multidetector (or multislice) computed tomography (MDCT) is the preferred primary imaging modality in blunt spinal trauma patients who do need imaging. Not only is CT more accurate in diagnosing spinal injury, it also reduces imaging time and patient manipulation. Evidence-based research has established that MDCT improves patient outcome and saves money in comparison to plain film. This review discusses the use, advantages and disadvantages of the different imaging techniques used in spinal trauma patients and the criteria used in selecting patients who do not need imaging. Finally an overview of different types of spinal injuries is given.     

Is there an association between fractures of the cervical spine and first- and second-rib fractures?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a potential association between cervical spine injury and first- and second-rib fractures. METHODS: Retrospective review of the radiologic and medical records of 28 consecutive patients admitted to an acute spinal injury unit. RESULTS: A total of 10 (36%) of the patients with cervical spine trauma also had fractures of either the first or second ribs. Eight of these 10 patients had a fracture or fracture-subluxation of the seventh cervical vertebra or the C6/7 segment. CONCLUSION: Almost one-third of patients with traumatic cervical spine injury have an associated upper-rib fracture. The strongest association is between injury at the C7 level and first-rib fracture.     

Determining prognosis after spinal cord injury

INTRODUCTION: Disability following traumatic spine injury often requires assessment for judicial reasons. OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimum time to carry out a medico-legal evaluation. METHODS: Retrospective study (1995-2000) of patients with traumatic spine injury with a follow-up of five years. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was used to determine level and extent of the injury. Statistical analysis by SPSS 11.0. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 173 injuries were analyzed (39.3% ASIA A; 15.6% ASIA B; 29.47% ASIA C; 15.6% ASIA D). Neurological improvement was detected in 35.83%, more frequently in incomplete injuries. ASIA A injuries remained mainly complete from admission to discharge and in no case reached functional levels. Only a third of ASIA B patients showed improvement, of whom 33.3% were functional. Improvement in ASIA C patients was 76.4%, these and all ASIA D patients were functional on discharge. The condition a year after the injury remained unchanged in all cases, regardless of the extent of injury. Patients who showed improvement did so early on, mainly during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: The optimum time for evaluation of spinal cord injury for medicolegal purposes is at one year after the injury. In cases of complete injury, evaluation can be carried out on discharge with no need to wait for one year.     

MR imaging of a severe cervical fracture-dislocation after traumatic delivery

We present the acute MR findings in an infant with a complicated traumatic delivery, asphyxia, spinal cord injury, and a radiographically apparent cervical spine fracture-dislocation. MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging allowed early characterization and localization of the extent of spinal cord injury.     

Cerebral stroke in a semi-pro football player: a case report.

Cervical spine trauma can clearly result in neurologic injury. An unusual traumatic event is a vascular insult of the vertebral arteries, potentially leading to stroke. The vertebral arteries are vulnerable to compression at several sites in the cervical spine. The high degree of physiologic rotation at the atlanto-axial joint places the vertebral artery at risk through normal daily activities as well as following forceful trauma, including manipulative treatment. Cerebrovascular insufficiency is an uncommon but serious complication of cervical spinal manipulation, which can lead to posterior circulatory impairment. Comprehensive diagnostic studies may be required to differentiate primary intracranial pathology from cerebral symptoms secondary to vascular compromise.     

Rückenprotektoren im Wintersport

The general incidence of skiing and snowboarding injuries is decreasing in the last years. But there is some evidence that rare severe injuries like traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury are increasing. Higher speed, extreme acrobatic forms of sport practice and increased risk taking behavior are discussed as possible reasons. Information about the risk and the sequelae of spine injuries should be placed in the first place. The spine protectors available on the market deliver only protection in specific situations.     

Significant new observations on cervical spine trauma.

The results of a computer analysis of 399 patients with documented fractures and/or dislocations of the cervical spine are summarized. Vertebral arch fractures were present in half of all patients with radiographic evidence of cervical spine trauma. Two-thirds of the patients had two or more injuries. Isolated disk injuries were rare and, when present, were characterized by a vacuum sign. The dens fracture, with or without atlantoaxial dislocation, was rarely associated with injury elsewhere in the cervical spine. The study suggests that the routine five-film cervical spine examination is inadequate to detect the most common traumatic lesions. Thus vertebral arch views (pillar views) should be obtained if there is evidence to suggest hyperextension as the mechanism of injury. In addition, the study underscores the importance of aggressively searching for multiple abnormalities.     

CT evidence for the "osseous pinch" mechanism of traumatic aortic injury.

OBJECTIVE. Our prior experiments suggested that traumatic laceration of the aorta induced by rapid deceleration results from pinching of the aorta between the spine and the anterior bony complex (manubrium, clavicle, and first rib). This study examines that hypothesis with in vivo CT data. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In 22 patients with angiographically and surgically proved lacerations of the proximal descending aorta, chest CT scans were obtained before (18) or after (four) surgical repair. The point of impact of the anterior bony complex with the anterior surface of the thoracic spine during compression of the thorax was predicted by simulated rotation of the first rib based on calculations made from the CT scans. RESULTS. In all 22 patients, the projected site of impact of the anterior bony complex with the spine corresponded to the actual injured aortic segment as determined with angiography. CONCLUSION. Our data further support the proposed "osseous pinch" mechanism of injury to explain traumatic tears of the aorta.     

Acute traumatic injury of the distal descending aorta associated with thoracic spine injury

A rare case of traumatic injury of the distal descending aorta associated with thoracic spine injury is reported. A 21-year-old man was admitted after a traffic accident. Thoracic CT and angiography demonstrated a false aneurysm of the distal descending aorta and a compression fracture of the eleventh thoracic vertebra. At emergency surgery, a transverse linear tear at the level of the aortic hiatus was confirmed and repaired. Received 30 October 1996; Revision received 3 March 1997; Accepted 26 March 1997     

儿童颅脑损伤诊治应注意的几个问题

儿童颅脑损伤是神经外科常见急诊,与成人有较大区别。在诊治过程中,不能完全照搬成人颅脑损伤的诊治模式和经验,应尽量减少患者的CT暴露,注意创伤性脑梗死的预防和早期治疗;重视儿童颅脑损伤后认知障碍及心理精神障碍的诊治。     

创伤性颈椎脊髓损伤患者临床MRI表现及预后分析

目的探讨创伤性颈椎脊髓损伤患者临床MRI表现情况,同时观察患者预后。方法选取2011年1月~2015年5月收治的96例创伤性颈椎脊髓损伤患者作为研究对象,男性50例,女性46例;年龄15~69岁,平均(41.6±4.8)岁。采用MRI检查;同时观察脊髓MRI与患者临床表现及预后间的关系。结果 96例创伤性颈椎脊髓损伤患者,颈椎骨折脱位者50例(52.1%),其中42例伴不同程度椎间盘突出;无骨折脱位者46例(47.9%),均伴不同程度椎间盘突出;伴脊髓外血肿及椎旁软组织损伤者30例(31.3%);不同期临床表现者的预后各不相同。结论应用MRI诊断创伤性颈椎脊髓损伤有利于观察患者临床表现,从而为临床治疗提供参考。     

Traumatic arm amputation, an uncommon parachuting injury

Parachuting is a unique method of deploying troops. Accidents in parachuting are common, but usually carry minimal risk for severe injury. Most accidents occur during landing and injuries often affect the lower limbs and spine. Traumatic amputation of a limb is an extremely rare event in parachuting. We present a case of a parachutist who suffered a traumatic amputation of the left hand during jumping off the plane.     

Radiology of the cervical spine in trauma patients: practice pitfalls and recommendations for improving efficiency and communication

Trauma constitutes a significant portion of emergency department practice. Such patients often have suspected cervical spine injury necessitating cervical spine radiographs. The importance of detecting cervical spine injury is obvious because failure to do so can lead to tragic consequences for patient and physician alike. Although most cervical spine radiographs are justified, poorly indicated and unnecessary examinations are unfortunately commonplace. Indiscriminate ordering of cervical spine examinations can easily exceed radiology resources assigned to the emergency department. Rational ordering practices are therefore essential for efficient patient management. A risk-tailored approach to performing these examinations, which can improve efficiency, is presented. Once obtained, cervical spine radiographs are presumed to detect injury with consistently high sensitivity. Prevailing conditions of emergency department practice that may lower the "sensitivity" of cervical spine radiographs are reviewed. Overreliance on the initial radiologic examination may lead to inappropriate haste in the evaluation of suspected cervical region injury as exemplified by the commonly voiced mandate to "clear the cervical spine" of injury. This approach is discouraged in patients with significant trauma in favor of a careful, progressive evaluation of the potentially injured cervical spine. Periodic review of these complex issues and close cooperation between clinical services are emphasized.     

血小板活化因子受体在闭合性颅脑损伤中的表达

 目的 研究闭合性脑损伤后PAF-R在脑组织中的表达部位、时序性特点.方法 采用免疫组化SP法检测脑损伤后不同时间SD大鼠脑组织PAF-R的表达情况.结果 脑损伤后,PAF-R表达在1～2 h开始减少,1 2～24 h达最低值,7 d时仍低于正常.顶叶皮层、胼胝体阳性细胞面积、阳性细胞计数与对照组比较差别有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论 PAF-R参与了闭合性颅脑损伤的病理过程.     

Early MRI findings in stab wound of the cervical spine: two case reports

MR imaging was found to be the most sensitive modality for the detection of spinal cord abnormalities in the acutely injured spine. Although it is reported that traumatic pneumomyelogram indicates a base-of-skull or middle cranial fossa fracture and is almost certainly associated with intracranial subarachnoid air, early MR imaging may demonstrate subarachnoid air in penetrating trauma of the spinal cord without head injury. We report two cervical-spine stab-wound cases, one of which had subarachnoid air on early MR findings.