Citation

Hope JMV, Sane JC, Diao S, Sy MH. J. Orthop. Case Rep. 2019; 9(1): 19-22.

Affiliation

Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Grand-Yoff General Hospital, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Indian Orthopaedic Research Group)

DOI

10.13107/jocr.2250-0685.1290

PMID

31245312

PMCID

PMC6588150

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Many cases of cervical spinal disc herniation caused by sporting injury have been reported. Those cases generally accompanied high-energy trauma such as fractures and/or dislocations. The purpose is to present the case of spinal cord injury (SCI) due to cervical disc herniation without bony involvement caused by wrestling. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 23-year-old man who sustained a cervical SCI during the wrestling competition. He was quadriplegic with no sensory or motor function preserved in sacral segments S4-S5. Conventional radiographs and computed tomography did not reveal bony abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a free herniated cervical disc severely compressing the spinal cord from central at C3/4 level. He underwent anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion using autologous iliac crest bone graft and fixation with the cervical plate. He made an eventful recovery, and 5 years later, he was playing at high competitive level.

CONCLUSION: Competitive wrestling-related injuries are quite high. Fortunately, the incidence of SCI among wrestlers is extremely low. Although rare, SCI due to cervical disc herniation without bony involvement is a serious debilitating injury that exerts a devastating effect on a wrestler from a physical, psychological, and socioeconomic point of view, and places an immense burden on society from a public health perspective. The MRI is the golden examination in diagnosing such lesion. The management comprises surgical decompression of neural elements, stabilization, and fusion to provide a higher recovery rate from cord damage to return to play. Wrestler who is completely pain free with full range of motion and strength may be eligible for return to play.

Language: en

Keywords

Cervical disc herniation; discectomy; spinal cord injury; wrestling