CERVICAL SPINAL STENOSIS AND STINGERS IN COLLEGIATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

We evaluated the relationship of cervical spinal stenosis with the occ urrence of ''stingers' in collegiate football players who participated at our institution from 1987 through 1991. Preparticipation cervical spine radiographs of 266 players were used to measure Torg ratio. Fort y players with stingers were identified: 34 had an extension-compressi on mechanism; 6 had a brachial plexus stretch mechanism. Time-loss nec k injuries occurred in 31 players; the remaining 195 players were asym ptomatic. The mean Torg ratio was significantly smaller for the stinge r group (P = 0.02). The Torg ratio was less than 0.8 at 1 or more leve ls in 47.5% of the stinger group, 32.3% of the time-loss neck pain gro up, and 25.1% of the asymptomatic group. No player with a brachial ple xus stretch mechanism had a mean Torg ratio less than 0.8, but 20.6% o f the players with an extension-compression mechanism had a mean Torg ratio less than 0.8. Players with a Torg ratio less than 0.8 had 3 tim es the risk of incurring stingers. We conclude that cervical spinal st enosis increases the risk for having stingers with complicated clinica l courses.