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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 88-B, Issue 6, 771-775.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.88B6.17388  
Copyright © 2006 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
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Spinal injuries in Irish rugby

A TEN-YEAR REVIEW

M. J. Shelly, MRCSI, Lecturer in Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery1; J. S. Butler, MB BCh, BAO, Orthopaedic Research Fellow1; M. Timlin, MCh, MRCSI, Specialist Registrar in Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery1; M. G. Walsh, FRCSI, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon1; A. R. Poynton, MD, FRCSI(Tr & Orth), Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon1; and J. M. O’Byrne, MCh, FRCSI, Abraham Colles Professor of Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery2

1 National Spinal Injuries Unit, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccle Street, Dublin 7, Ireland.
2 RCSI Professorial Unit, Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Finglas, Dublin 11, Ireland.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr M. J. Shelly; e-mail: martinshelly{at}eircom.net

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.




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Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General