Recognition
A high index of suspicion for a spinal injury should be considered in the following circumstances:
- Head impact in the front row, on engagement of the scrum resulting in a head and/or neck injury.
- Collapsed scrum resulting in head and/or neck injury
- Front row “popping” in the scrum resulting in neck injury
- Head impact in a tackle resulting in a head and/or neck injury
- Neck injury resulting from ‘Squeeze’ ball
- “Spear tackle” resulting in head and/or neck injury
- Fall from height e.g. tackled in the air or dropped from a lift in the lineout resulting in a head and/or neck injury
- All head injuries resulting in an altered conscious level
Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injury
- Central neck or back pain
- Deformity of spinal column
- Paralysis
- Numbness
- Heaviness of limbs
- Tingling/paraesthesia
- Neurogenic shock
- Respiratory difficulty
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Respiratory arrest
- Priapism