Citation

Brauge D, Sol JC, Djidjeli I, Roux FE. Clin. J. Sport. Med. 2018; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Université Paul Sabatier, UPS, Toulouse, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JSM.0000000000000637

PMID

30383546

Abstract

For high-level athletes, most experts consider that 1-level arthrodesis in cervical spine surgery does not prevent return to play. Nevertheless, return remains controversial in cases of 2-level fusions. We report the case of a 27-year-old professional rugby player. He had had a double cervical fusion C5C6 and C6C7 for cervical hernia and was allowed to continue rugby activities afterward. Four years after this surgery, his neck was forced in hyperflexion during a match and complete tetraplegia occurred. A computed tomography scan showed a C3C4 unilateral facet dislocation. The patient was rapidly operated on. At follow-up, 2 years after the accident, the patient remained tetraplegic with no neurologic improvement. If no definitive conclusion can be established on this first observation, many precautions must be taken before a return-to-play decision, especially in contact sports.

Language: en