Cervical fracture in a Nordic skier

Cervical injuries with subtle physical and radiographic signs can occur in any sport, even those that do not usually produce significant musculoskelet al trauma. In this case, a cross-country skier's symptoms-shoulder pain and thumb numbness-were initially thought to represent a shoulder injury. Refl ex testing raised the possibility of a cervical spine injury. Radiographs w ere negative for fracture, but computed tomography revealed a fracture of t he C-6 right articular pillar. The patient was placed in a rigid cervical o rthosis. After 4 months the patient's symptoms resolved and the fracture he aled.