We studied prospectively 22 young athletes who had undergone surgical treatment for lumbar spondylolysis. There were 15 men and seven women with a mean age of 20.2 years (15 to 34). Of these, 13 were professional footballers, four professional cricketers, three hockey players, one a tennis player and one a golfer. Preoperative assessment included plain radiography, single positron-emission CT, planar bone scanning and reverse-gantry CT. In all patients the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and in 19 the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) scores were determined preoperatively, and both were measured again after two years in all patients. Three patients had a Scott’s fusion and 19 a Buck’s fusion.

The mean duration of back pain before surgery was 9.4 months (6 to 36). The mean size of the defect as determined by CT was 3.5 mm (1 to 8) and the mean preoperative and postoperative ODIs were 39.5 (sd 8.7) and 10.7 (sd 12.9), respectively. The mean scores for the physical component of the SF-36 improved from 27.1 (sd 5.1) to 47.8 (sd 7.7). The mean scores for the mental health component of the SF-36 improved from 39.0 (sd 3.9) to 55.4 (sd 6.3) with p < 0.001. After rehabilitation for a mean of seven months (4 to 10) 18 patients (82%) returned to their previous sporting activity.

Spinal deformations are posture dependent. Official data from the Netherlands show that youth are encountering increasing problems with the musculoskeletal system (>40% back pain, and sport injury proneness). Prolonged sloth and slumped sitting postures are causative factors. Dutch youth are “champion sitting” in Europe. The effects of sitting on the development of posture and function of locomotion (stiffness) during growth have only been reported clearly in classic textbooks (in German) of practical anatomy and orthopaedics. Research with relevant clinical examinations is being done to understand epidemiological data on the increasing posture-dependent problems. A cohort of adolescents (15–18 years) in secondary school was assessed for sagittal postural deviations while bending. 248 children completed a questionnaire, and tests were done on neuromuscular tightness. The femorotibial angle was used to measure hamstring tightness. Measurement of the dorsiflexion of the foot was used to assess the tightness of calf muscles and Achilles tendons. All adolescents were photographed laterally while performing the finger–floor test (used to test flexibility), assessed as a knockout test: “Can you reach the floor or not?” The spinal profiles while bending were classified as abnormal arcuate or angular kyphosis. Hamstring tightness was present in 62.1% of the cohort in both legs, and in 18.2% unilaterally. Achilles tendon tightness was present bilaterally in 59.3%, and unilaterally in 19.4%. Activities with presence of stiffness (finger–floor distance), in descending order, were football, running, no sports, field hockey, tennis, dance, and gymnastics. 93.5% of the soccer players had tight hamstrings in both legs compared with none of those performing gymnastics. The correlation of the finger–floor test with tight hamstrings was 73.2%. For sagittal bending deformities, the correlation between form and function deficits cannot be made yet. 80 of 248 spines were rated by the examiners as having deformed flexion. Since Andry (1741) and at the zenith of continental orthopaedics and anatomy around 1900, the prolonged flexed positions of a young spine were indicated as being the main cause of deformity by overload and shear loads on immature discs and cartilage, preventing normal development of the discs. Nachemson proved that the intradiscal pressure in sitting adults was extremely high, so it follows that children must also be at risk. Evidence suggests that youth, generally because of their sedentary and “screenful lifestyle”, will encounter serious problems in growth, manifesting as incongruent neuro-osseous growth (Roth), serious neuromuscular tightness (being prone to injury), and spinal deformations, leading to pain

Background. There is concern that a sedentary lifestyle in childhood is harmful to spinal health. The literature stands divided, as there are reports also of an increased injury rate in children who are physically active. Children cannot be expected to remember correctly amount of physical activity in the past nor can they remember correctly past events of backpain. We therefore used a new method, SMS-Track, to collect weekly data over a long period of time. Methods and material. In a prospective Danish study, the effect of increased physical activity was tested vs. “business-as-usual” in 10 primary schools. We collected data on time spent on physical activities and any backpain in the preceding week. For this we sent the children weekly text-messages, to which the children/parents responded with a text-message as well. If the child reported having had any backpain during the preceding week, the parents were contacted, the child seen by a health professional, and treatment initiated if necessary. Results. Compliance for responding to the text-messages was 92%. The total risk time was 35,238 weeks for the participating 1208 children. As the assumption for proportional hazards was not met, negative binomial regression was used to test the association between level of physical activity and incidence of backpain. In addition, we adjusted for age, school and grade level and used robust standard errors. Adjustment for clustering in the school classes was also made. Sport participation reduced the incidence rate significantly with 0.08 for each day with organised sport after school. Conclusion. These interim analyses indicate that sport participation is protective, reducing the risk of reporting backpain in childhood

Aims

To systematically evaluate whether bracing can effectively achieve curve regression in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), and to identify any predictors of curve regression after bracing.

We have examined the outcome in 19 professional rugby union players who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion between 1998 and 2003. Through a retrospective review of the medical records and telephone interviews of all 19 players, we have attempted to determine the likelihood of improvement, return to professional sport and the long-term consequences. We have also attempted to relate the probability of symptoms in the neck and radicular pain in the arm to the position of play. Neck and radicular pain were improved in 17 patients, with 13 returning to rugby, the majority by six months after operation. Of these, 13 returned to their pre-operative standard of play, one to a lower level and five have not played rugby again. Two of those who returned to the game have subsequently suffered further symptoms in the neck, one of whom was obliged to retire. The majority of the players with problems in the neck were front row forwards. A return to playing rugby union after surgery and fusion of the anterior cervical spine is both likely and safe and need not end a career in the game

This review provides a concise outline of the advances made in the care of patients and to the quality of life after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) over the last century. Despite these improvements reversal of the neurological injury is not yet possible. Instead, current treatment is limited to providing symptomatic relief, avoiding secondary insults and preventing additional sequelae. However, with an ever-advancing technology and deeper understanding of the damaged spinal cord, this appears increasingly conceivable. A brief synopsis of the most prominent challenges facing both clinicians and research scientists in developing functional treatments for a progressively complex injury are presented. Moreover, the multiple mechanisms by which damage propagates many months after the original injury requires a multifaceted approach to ameliorate the human spinal cord. We discuss potential methods to protect the spinal cord from damage, and to manipulate the inherent inhibition of the spinal cord to regeneration and repair. Although acute and chronic SCI share common final pathways resulting in cell death and neurological deficits, the underlying putative mechanisms of chronic SCI and the treatments are not covered in this review.

Many operations have been recommended to treat Pars Interarticularis fractures that have separated and are persistently symptomatic, but little other than conservative treatment has been recommended for symptomatic incomplete fractures. 10 consecutive patients aged 15–28 [mean 21.7 years] were treated operatively between 2010–2014. All but one were either professional athletes [3 cricketers, 2 athletics, 1 soccer] or academy cricketers [3 patients]. 8 patients had unilateral fractures, and two had bilateral fractures at the same level. The duration of pre-operative pain and disability with exercise ranged from 4–24 months [mean 15.4 months]. The operation consists of a percutaneous compression screw inserted through a 1.5cm midline skin incision under fluoroscopic guidance: 6 cases were also checked with the O-arm intra-operatively. Post-operation the patients were mobilised with a simple corset and discharged the following day with a customised rehabilitation program. All 12 fractures in 10 patients healed as demonstrated on post-operative CT scans at between 3–6 months. One patient had the screw revised at 24 hours for an asymptomatic breach, and one patient developed a halo around the fracture site without screw loosening, and had a successful revision operation to remove the screw and graft the pars from the screw channel. All patients achieved a full return to asymptomatic activity, within a timescale of 4–12 months post-surgery, depending on the sport. Athletes that have persistent symptoms from incomplete pars interarticularis fractures should consider percutaneous fixation rather than undergoing prolonged or repeated periods of rest

Spinal cord injury is an inevitable but rare occurrence in sports. Identifying trends and working to minimise risk is an integral part of sports management. All patients suffering a spinal cord injury in Scotland will be transferred to the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit (QENSIU). Our records give an accurate account of trends in spinal cord injury. This study details the number of spinal cord injuries caused by sports and leisure pursuits in Scotland since 1992. 1451 patients have suffered a spinal cord injury in Scotland from 1992-2008. 142 (9.8%) arose from injuries during sport. The average age at injury was 32, and patients were predominantly male (91%). The commonest cause was diving (40, 28%) followed by cycling (29, 20%) climbing and hillwalking (15, 11%) and rugby union (12, 8%). Smaller numbers were seen in horse-riding (11), aerial sports (6), motor sports (6), snow sports (5), and football (5). Overall, there was evidence of an increasing trend in the number and severity of injuries in rugby and cycling. The number of spinal injuries, caused by diving, rugby and cycling remains disproportionally high and the increasing trends identified merit further investigation

Aims

We performed a retrospective, comparative study of elderly patients with an increased risk from anaesthesia who had undergone either anterior screw fixation (ASF) or halo vest immobilisation (HVI) for a type II odontoid fracture.

Lumbar spondylolysis is a stress fracture of the pars interarticularis. We have evaluated the site of origin of the fracture clinically and biomechanically.

Ten adolescents with incomplete stress fractures of the pars (four bilateral) were included in our study. There were seven boys and three girls aged between 11 and 17 years. The site of the fracture was confirmed by axial and sagittal reconstructed CT. The maximum principal tensile stresses and their locations in the L5 pars during lumbar movement were calculated using a three-dimensional finite-element model of the L3-S1 segment.

In all ten patients the fracture line was seen only at the caudal-ventral aspect of the pars and did not spread completely to the craniodorsal aspect. According to the finite-element analysis, the higher stresses were found at the caudal-ventral aspect in all loading modes. In extension, the stress was twofold higher in the ventral than in the dorsal aspect.

Our radiological and biomechanical results were in agreement with our clinical observations.

Back pain is a common symptom in children and adolescents. Here we review the important causes, of which defects and stress reactions of the pars interarticularis are the most common identifiable problems. More serious pathology, including malignancy and infection, needs to be excluded when there is associated systemic illness. Clinical evaluation and management may be difficult and always requires a thorough history and physical examination. Diagnostic imaging is obtained when symptoms are persistent or severe. Imaging is used to reassure the patient, relatives and carers, and to guide management.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:717–23.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis affects about 3% of children. Non-operative measures are aimed at altering the natural history to maintain the size of the curve below 40° at skeletal maturity. The application of braces to treat spinal deformity pre-dates the era of evidence-based medicine, and there is a paucity of irrefutable prospective evidence in the literature to support their use and their effectiveness has been questioned.

This review considers this evidence. The weight of the evidence is in favour of bracing over observation. The most recent literature has moved away from addressing this question, and instead focuses on developments in the design of braces and ways to improve compliance.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1308–16.

This study assessed the frequency of acute injury to the spinal cord in Irish Rugby over a period of ten years, between 1995 and 2004. There were 12 such injuries; 11 were cervical and one was thoracic. Ten occurred in adults and two in schoolboys. All were males playing Rugby Union and the mean age at injury was 21.6 years (16 to 36). The most common mechanism of injury was hyperflexion of the cervical spine and the players injured most frequently were playing at full back, hooker or on the wing. Most injuries were sustained during the tackle phase of play. Six players felt their injury was preventable. Eight are permanently disabled as a result of their injury.

It has been noted that bony union of a pars defect can be achieved in children if they wear a trunk brace. Our aim was to evaluate how the stage of the defect on CT and the presence or absence of high signal change in the adjacent pedicle on T2-weighted MRI were related to bony healing. We treated 23 children conservatively for at least three months. There were 19 boys and four girls with a mean age of 13.5 years (7 to 17). They were asked to refrain from sporting activity and to wear a Damen soft thoracolumbosacral type brace. There were 41 pars defects in 23 patients. These were classified as an early, progressive or terminal stage on CT. The early-stage lesions had a hairline crack in the pars interarticularis, which became a gap in the progressive stage. A terminal-stage defect was equivalent to a pseudarthrosis. On the T2-weighted MR scan the presence or absence of high signal change in the adjacent pedicle was assessed and on this basis the defects were divided into high signal change-positive or -negative. Healing of the defect was assessed by CT.

In all, 13 (87%) of the 15 early defects healed. Of 19 progressive defects, only six (32%) healed. None of the seven terminal defects healed. Of the 26 high signal change-positive defects 20 (77%) healed after conservative treatment whereas none of the high signal change-negative defects did so. We concluded that an early-stage defect on CT and high signal change in the adjacent pedicle on a T2-weighted MR scan are useful predictors of bony healing of a pars defect in children after conservative treatment.