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Cervical Spine and Neck Injuries

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Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Military

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Abstract

Cervical spine and neck injuries are becoming increasingly recognized as significant contributors to morbidity and mortality in the USA and Coalition Armed Forces. Throughout history, combat-related spinal injury has been recognized as rare but severe, often associated with other devastating injuries and a high mortality rate. In today’s military, both atraumatic “spine pain” and combat injury have had deleterious effects on force readiness, while recent literature has suggested that the rate of cervical injury in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan may be the highest ever recorded. These injury patterns continue to be associated with significant mortality. Evolving literature is beginning to shed light on this previously under-recorded but substantial aspect of combat-related injury as well as the limits of intervention in hostile environments. It is therefore highly important to understand the history, epidemiology, characterization, and treatment protocols for these injuries to maximize military capabilities in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Ave, 20889, Bethesda, MD, USA

    LT Scott C. Wagner MD, MC & LTC Ronald A. Lehman MD, MC

Authors
  1. LT Scott C. Wagner MD, MC
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  2. LTC Ronald A. Lehman MD, MC
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scott C. Wagner MD, MC .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Keller Army Hospital, West Point, New York, USA

    Kenneth L. Cameron

  2. Keller Army Hospital, West Point, New York, USA

    Brett D. Owens

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Wagner, S., Lehman, R. (2016). Cervical Spine and Neck Injuries. In: Cameron, K., Owens, B. (eds) Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Military. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2984-9_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2984-9_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2984-9

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