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Traumatic Lumbar Injuries in Athletes

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Spinal Conditions in the Athlete

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Abstract

The majority of traumatic lumbar injuries occur after a high-energy mechanism or as a result of preexisting congenital deformity. Although rare, these injuries can be seen in the elite athlete. Treatment can differ depending on the spectrum of injury. These patients necessitate a high index of suspicion and require meticulous evaluation immediately with an organized, routine checklist. Physical examination can alert the physician of the location of pain as well as neurologic deficits to guide advanced imaging with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Providing a controlled and safe environment for evaluation, transfer, and ultimately treatment both in the acute and follow-up periods is paramount for optimizing outcomes. It is also critical to recognize pathology that necessitates emergent operative intervention. Lastly, it is important to educate the athlete on complications associated with thoracolumbar injuries as long-term sequelae can result. Complications should be openly discussed with the patient, their coaches, and family to maintain accurate expectations for return to play.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA

    Elizabeth P. Davis, James E. Showery, Mark L. Prasarn & Shah-Nawaz M. Dodwad

  2. Memorial Hermann Hospital–Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Elizabeth P. Davis, James E. Showery, Mark L. Prasarn & Shah-Nawaz M. Dodwad

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  1. Elizabeth P. Davis
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  2. James E. Showery
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  3. Mark L. Prasarn
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  4. Shah-Nawaz M. Dodwad
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Correspondence to Shah-Nawaz M. Dodwad .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Wellington K. Hsu

  2. Columbia Orthopedic Group, Columbia, MO, USA

    Tyler J. Jenkins

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Davis, E.P., Showery, J.E., Prasarn, M.L., Dodwad, SN.M. (2020). Traumatic Lumbar Injuries in Athletes. In: Hsu, W., Jenkins, T. (eds) Spinal Conditions in the Athlete. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26207-5_18

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