Abstract
Study Design: Retrospective review.
Objectives: Rugby union has recently become a highly-paid professional sport. Players requiring anterior cervical discectomy wish to know the effect this will have on their career. To answer this question, the result of the above procedure in professional rugby players was studied.
Methods: A retrospective notes review and telephone interview were conducted on 19 professional rugby players who had a cervical discectomy between 1998 and 2003. Pre and post operative symptoms and numbers returning to rugby after surgery were assessed.
Results: Neck pain was eradicated in eight (42%) of the players, nine (47%) achieved partial relief and two were not helped. Brachalgia was eradicated in fifteen (79%) individuals, improved in two (10.5%) and two (10.5%) had no relief. Fourteen (74%) returned to rugby union, the majority at six months post operatively (range – five to 17 months). Thirteen (68.5%) returned to their pre-operative level of rugby; one dropped to a lesser division and five have never played rugby again (three due to physical inability, one due to club reluctance to insure and one because of a separate injury). Two of the players that returned to rugby have subsequently retired because of neck symptoms. They played three and two years post-operatively at first-class level.
Conclusion: Return to rugby union after anterior cervical discectomy is both likely and safe and therefore need not be a career ending procedure.
These abstracts were prepared by Mr. Brian J C Freeman FRCS (Tr & Orth). Correspondence should be addressed to him at The Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH.
