Cervical spine alignment in the immobilized football player. Radiographic analysis before and after helmet removal

Abstract

We investigated the effect of football helmet removal on the sagittal alignment of the cervical spine. A quantitative radiographic assessment of relative cervical spine position in subjects immobilized to a standard backboard wearing shoulder pads either with or without a helmet was performed. Comparison was made to a control situation with subjects on a backboard wearing no equipment. Ten subjects were studied using lateral computed tomographic scout films; each subject served as his own control. Radiographs were measured for overall sagittal cervical alignment and the amount of lordosis or kyphosis present within specific segments of the cervical spine. Mean values for each of the three defined situations (no equipment, shoulder pads and helmet, shoulder pads alone after helmet removal) were calculated and subjected to statistical analysis. No statistically significant difference in cervical sagittal alignment was noted when either no equipment or both shoulder pads and helmet were worn. In contrast, a statistically significant increase in cervical lordosis (extension) was found when comparing the control situation to that when only shoulder pads were worn after the helmet had been removed. The majority of this increase occurred in the subaxial spine. Therefore, the authors recommend that football players with a potential cervical spine injury be immobilized for transport with both their helmet and shoulder pads left in place, thereby maintaining the neck in a position most closely approximating "normal."