Abstract des Autors

The bony cervical spine and spinal cord are stabilized and further supported by groups of ligaments and muscles. These ligaments and muscles are susceptible to sport-related injury, and there are several anatomic and radiographic characteristics of the pediatric cervical spine that can make evaluation difficult. Ligamentous injuries can be difficult to detect as they are not always obvious on initial radiographic views of the cervical spine; thus, a high clinical suspicion must be maintained. Ligamentous injuries to the cervical spine include cervical vertebral subluxation, acute atlantoaxial instability, atlantoaxial rotary subluxation, and spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality. Muscular injury to the cervical spine is often a diagnosis of exclusion after imaging modalities have confirmed to evidence of bony or ligamentous injury. Muscular injuries to the cervical spine include cervical strain or sprain and whiplash.