CERVICAL-SPINE INJURY IN A BOXER - SHOULD MANDATORY SCREENING BE INSTITUTED

Cervical spine fracture is a rate, yet potentially catastrophic compli cation associated with boxing. Neurologic deficits, ocular injuries, o r other traumatic musculoskeletal injuries have been commonly reported , Symptoms of cervical spine injury may be minimal or absent. Cervical spine fracture may be undiagnosed and unreported in boxers with presu med soft-tissue injury to the head and neck. We describe a young athle te who sustained a transient spinal cord injury while boxing, which re quired a cervical spine fusion and postoperative immobilization in a h alo vest. This athlete also had an os odontoideum, which placed him at significant risk for such an injury. Pre- and postparticipation scree ning of the cervical spine should be considered in all boxers.