Coexistent sports-related concussion and cervical SCIWORA in an adolescent: a case report.

Background Sports-related concussion (SRC) results from abnormal traumatic forces applied to the brain, resulting in temporary alteration in neurological functioning. At the time of injury, such forces also are applied often to the cervical spine, placing the athlete at risk of a coexistent cervical spine injury. Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) is a unique form of spinal cord injury (SCI) occurring predominantly among the pediatric population; it has been reported in both children and adolescents participating in contact sports (3,4,6,8,12Y14). Wide variability, subtlety, and delayed onset of the clinical manifestations associated with both SRC and SCIWORA among children and adolescents present significant obstacles to recognizing and managing these conditions, especially when they occur in the same patient.