Association of burners with cervical canal and foraminal stenosis

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the burner phenomenon is associated with cervical canal and foraminal stenosis in a scholastic popu lation. Lateral cervical radiographs were reviewed for 64 athletes, 15 to 1 8 years of age, who had sustained at least one burner. Controls consisted o f age-matched athletes who had sustained head or neck trauma without eviden ce of the burner phenomenon (N = 32). Pavlov ratios were calculated for lev els C-3 through C-6; both mean minimum and mean average ratios were determi ned. Available oblique radiographs from both the study (N = 31) and control (N = 15) groups were then used to calculate the foramen/vertebral body rat io-a measure of relative foraminal height. Significant differences were fou nd between the burner and control groups for the mean minimum and mean aver age Pavlov ratios and foramen/vertebral body ratios. Scholastic athletes su staining the burner phenomenon have an increased risk of cervical canal and foraminal stenosis as measured by the Pavlov and foramen/vertebral body ra tios, respectively. The foramen/vertebral body ratio is an easily reproduci ble and reliable means of assessing foraminal dimensions from oblique radio graphs and controls for x-ray magnification and rotation. Foraminal stenosi s assessment may prove useful in predicting burner risk, especially in athl etes with extension-compression injuries.