National athletic trainers' association position statement: acute management of the cervical spine-injured athlete.
Publication/Presentation Date
5-1-2009
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To provide certified athletic trainers, team physicians, emergency responders, and other health care professionals with recommendations on how to best manage a catastrophic cervical spine injury in the athlete.
BACKGROUND: The relative incidence of catastrophic cervical spine injury in sports is low compared with other injuries. However, cervical spine injuries necessitate delicate and precise management, often involving the combined efforts of a variety of health care providers. The outcome of a catastrophic cervical spine injury depends on the efficiency of this management process and the timeliness of transfer to a controlled environment for diagnosis and treatment.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendations are based on current evidence pertaining to prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of cervical spine injuries in sport; emergency planning and preparation to increase management efficiency; maintaining or creating neutral alignment in the cervical spine; accessing and maintaining the airway; stabilizing and transferring the athlete with a suspected cervical spine injury; managing the athlete participating in an equipment-laden sport, such as football, hockey, or lacrosse; and considerations in the emergency department.
Volume
44
Issue
3
First Page
306
Last Page
331
ISSN
1938-162X
Published In/Presented At
Swartz EE, Boden BP, Courson RW, Decoster LC, Horodyski M, Norkus SA, Rehberg RS, Waninger KN. National athletic trainers' association position statement: acute management of the cervical spine-injured athlete. J Athl Train. 2009 May-Jun;44(3):306-31. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-44.3.306.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
19478836
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article