Abstract

Records of consecutive patients admitted to two tertiary care hospitals with a spinal fracture were reviewed for the 5-year period of 1980-1984. Sporting and recreational injuries accounted for 134 (12) of 1,08 spinal fractures, ranking fourth behind motor vehicle accidents (53), occupational causes (16), and domestic accidents (15). However, there is a high percentage of spinal cord damage with these sports-induced injuries. Furthermore, over the 5-year period, trends towards increasing frequency of injury in diving, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiling, rugby, and hockey were identified. In addition, equestrian accidents accounted for 12 of the sport-related injuries. Unfortunately, alcohol ingestion and poor decision-making featured highly in many of these cases. Knowledge of injury patterns and awareness of these potentially disastrous injuries are important so that their presence is not overlooked and correct first-aid instigated. Football rule changes have drastically reduced the frequency of spine injuries and suggestions have been made for similar changes for ice hockey and rugby that will hopefully reverse the current trend towards increasingly severe injuries. The catastrophic nature of spinal cord injury cannot be overemphasized and discussion of the data presented in this report is directed at pointing out the potentially preventable aspects associated with spine trauma in sport. Verf.-Referat