Skip to main content
Log in

Cervical Spinal Stenosis with Cord Neurapraxia and Transient Quadriplegia

  • Injury Clinic
  • Published:
Sports Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Cervical cord neurapraxia is a transient, totally reversible phenomenon that results from compressive deformation of the spinal cord. It occurs as a result of developmental narrowing of the cervical canal, either as an isolated entity or in combination with degenerative changes, instability or congenital abnormalities. Uncomplicated stenosis of the cervical canal in an individual with a stable spine does not predispose to permanent neurological injury. Our data do not indicate a correlation between developmental narrowing and permanent neurological sequelae in a spine rendered unstable by football-induced trauma. However, there are data indicating that the occurrence of an episode of cervical cord neurapraxia is not a harbinger, or an indication of susceptibility to permanent neurological sequelae. Nevertheless, we recommend that continued participation in collision activities be restricted in individuals who have had a documented episode of cervical cord neurapraxia associated with (i) ligamentous instability; (ii) intervertebral disc disease with cord compression; (iii) significant degenerative changes; (iv) magnetic resonance imaging evidence of cord defect or swelling; (v) symptoms of positive neurological findings lasting more than 36 hours; and (vi) more than one recurrence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Torg JS, Pavol H, Genuario S, et al. Neurapraxia of the cervical spinal cord with transient quadriplegia. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1986 Dec; 68-A(9): 1354–1370

    Google Scholar 

  2. Grant T, Puffer J. Cervical stenosis: a developmental anomaly with quadriparesis during football. Am J Sports Med 1976 Sept–Oct; 4: 219–21

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Stratford J. Congenital cervical stenosis: a factor in myelopathy. Acta Nuerochir 1978; 41(1–3): 101–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Funk PJ, Wells RE. Injuries of the cervical spine in football. Clin Orthop 1975; 109: 50–8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wilkinson HA, LeMay ML, Ferrs EJ. Roentgenographic correlation in cervical spondylolysis. Am J Roentgenol 1969; 105: 370–4

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Boijsen E. Cervical spinal canal in intraspinal expansive processes. Acta Radiol 1954; 42: 101–15

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Pavlov H, Torg JS, Robie B, et al. Cervical spinal stenosis: determination with vertebral body ratio method. Radiology 1987; 164: 771–5

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Penning, L. Some aspects of plain radiography of the cervical spine in chronic myelopathy. Neurology 1962; 12: 513–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Herzog RJ, Wiens JJ, Dillingham MF, et al. Normal cervical spine morphometry and cervical spinal stenosis in asymptomatic professional football players: plain film radiography, multiplanar computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Spine 1990 Nov; 16(6): 178–86

    Google Scholar 

  10. Eismont FJ, Clifford S, Goldberg M, et al. Cervical sagittal spinal size in spine injury. Spine 1983; 9(3): 663–6

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Torg, J.S. Cervical Spinal Stenosis with Cord Neurapraxia and Transient Quadriplegia. Sports Med 20, 429–434 (1995). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199520060-00007

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199520060-00007

Keywords

Navigation