Rugby and cervical spine injuries-has anything changed? A 5-year review in the Western Cape
| dc.contributor.author | Dunn, Robert Neil | |
| dc.contributor.author | van der Spuy, Dirk | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-02-14T08:43:33Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-02-14T08:43:33Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2010 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2016-01-21T03:28:17Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Objectives. To review the incidence of all rugby-associated cervical spine injuries in the Western Cape and identify risk factors. Methods. We reviewed case notes and X-rays of 27 male patients with rugby-related cervical spine injuries treated at the acute spinal injury (ASCI) unit at Groote Schuur Hospital from April 2003 to June 2008, and followed up with telephone interviews. Patient profile, rugby profile, subsequent injury management from the field to definitive surgery and neurological status on admission, discharge and followup using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification were assessed. Results. Average patient age was 25.3 years; 19% of them were scholars. The highest level of education among the adults was primary school in 70% of cases. Forwards and backs had the same injury rate. Most injuries occurred outside the metropole; more occurred in the tackling phase; 39% occurred during foul play; a third of players were not stabilised with a collar on the field; and 65% were taken to an inappropriate primary contact centre. A median of 10 hours elapsed before admission to the ASCI unit. Facet dislocations occurred in 59%; 8 presented neurologically complete and remained so; and 3 presented with residual sensation, with 2 improving to normal. Three presented as ASIA C improving to D, and all Ds improved to Es. Despite their injuries, 60% said they would advise their sons to play rugby. Only 22% regretted playing. Conclusions. Despite a reduction in cervical spine injuries in rugby in the Western Cape, the latter mostly occur outside the metropole, where levels of education are lower, foul play is more often associated with the injury, and rapid access to medical care is generally unavailable. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Dunn, R. N., & van der Spuy, D. (2010). Rugby and cervical spine injuries-has anything changed? A 5-year review in the Western Cape. <i>South African Medical Journal</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27568 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Dunn, Robert Neil, and Dirk van der Spuy "Rugby and cervical spine injuries-has anything changed? A 5-year review in the Western Cape." <i>South African Medical Journal</i> (2010) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27568 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Dunn, R. N., & Van der Spuy, D. (2010). Rugby and cervical spine injuries: has anything changed? A 5-year review in the Western Cape. SAMJ: South African Medical Journal, 100(4), 235-238. | |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Journal Article AU - Dunn, Robert Neil AU - van der Spuy, Dirk AB - Objectives. To review the incidence of all rugby-associated cervical spine injuries in the Western Cape and identify risk factors. Methods. We reviewed case notes and X-rays of 27 male patients with rugby-related cervical spine injuries treated at the acute spinal injury (ASCI) unit at Groote Schuur Hospital from April 2003 to June 2008, and followed up with telephone interviews. Patient profile, rugby profile, subsequent injury management from the field to definitive surgery and neurological status on admission, discharge and followup using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification were assessed. Results. Average patient age was 25.3 years; 19% of them were scholars. The highest level of education among the adults was primary school in 70% of cases. Forwards and backs had the same injury rate. Most injuries occurred outside the metropole; more occurred in the tackling phase; 39% occurred during foul play; a third of players were not stabilised with a collar on the field; and 65% were taken to an inappropriate primary contact centre. A median of 10 hours elapsed before admission to the ASCI unit. Facet dislocations occurred in 59%; 8 presented neurologically complete and remained so; and 3 presented with residual sensation, with 2 improving to normal. Three presented as ASIA C improving to D, and all Ds improved to Es. Despite their injuries, 60% said they would advise their sons to play rugby. Only 22% regretted playing. Conclusions. Despite a reduction in cervical spine injuries in rugby in the Western Cape, the latter mostly occur outside the metropole, where levels of education are lower, foul play is more often associated with the injury, and rapid access to medical care is generally unavailable. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - South African Medical Journal LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - Rugby and cervical spine injuries-has anything changed? A 5-year review in the Western Cape TI - Rugby and cervical spine injuries-has anything changed? A 5-year review in the Western Cape UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27568 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27568 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Dunn RN, van der Spuy D. Rugby and cervical spine injuries-has anything changed? A 5-year review in the Western Cape. South African Medical Journal. 2010; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27568. | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Division of Orthopaedic Surgery | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.source | South African Medical Journal | |
| dc.source.uri | http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj | |
| dc.title | Rugby and cervical spine injuries-has anything changed? A 5-year review in the Western Cape | |
| dc.type | Journal Article | |
| uct.type.filetype | Text | |
| uct.type.filetype | Image |