SPINAL-INJURIES IN ICE HOCKEY

SportSmart Canada maintains a registry of spinal injuries in hockey an d has documented 214 cases of fracture or dislocation of the spine, oc curring mainly in North America since 1966. Tile current annual incide nce is approximately 15 cases per year arid may be declining as a resu lt of intense prevention programs. Most of the injuries have been to t he cervical spine in players :16 to 20 years of age playing supervised games. Checking from behind causing impact of the head against boards has been an important cause of injury, especially for those injuries resulting in neurological deficit.