Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Cervical cord neurapraxia and stingers can create significant angst in players, coaches, families, and spectators. Avoidance of permanent injury is tantamount. Effective postinjury management of the injured athlete by medical personnel either on the field or…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Vertebral artery injuries (VAIs) are becoming increasingly recognized as more screening protocols are being used. Angiography is the gold standard, but many centers are using computed tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) as the…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious worldwide health problem, often resulting in significant morbidity and permanent neurologic deficits. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale can be used to classify the extent of the…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Injuries to the subaxial cervical spine comprise the majority of cervical spine injuries annually. Since 2000, novel classification systems have been developed to provide a uniform method of characterizing subaxial cervical spine injuries and to help…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis The occipitocervical junction consists of structurally important osseous and ligamentous complexes that stabilize the skull base to the spine. Compromise of either the complex bony or ligamentous complex places the integrity of the occipitocervical junction at…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) has unique characteristics in multiple lesions from the cervical spine to the lumbar spine and in its gradual extension of ossification. The clinical course resembles that of spondylosis. However,…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Cervical deformity is disruption of normal cervical alignment. This chapter focuses on the different causes of cervical deformity, normative data, and deformity evaluation and examination and presents various treatment options for the proper management of these…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is spinal cord dysfunction accompanying age-related degeneration of the cervical spine. The lack of prospective studies of its natural history and vague clinical symptoms pose difficult challenges for clinicians. This chapter aims…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Cervical radiculopathy is defined as pain with or without a motor, sensory, or reflex deficit that is caused by cervical nerve root compression or irritation. Typically, cervical radiculopathy has a favorable natural history. This chapter reviews…
Chapter Preview Chapter Synopsis Cervical disk degeneration becomes more prevalent with increasing age and can affect both male and female patients equally. Genes associated with disk degeneration include those coding for collagen I and IX, vitamin D receptor, and matrix…