SPINAL CORD INJURIES IN ICE HOCKEY IN FINLAND 1087

Abstract

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in the cervical or thoracic region is one of the most severe types of sports injury. Ice hockey is a very popular sport in Finland; since the 1980s the number of yearly registered players has been 35.000-50.000. This study provides details of the eight SCIs that occurred in Finland between 1983 and 1996. Of these injuries three occurred in junior players between 15 and 19 years, and five between 21 and 33 years of age. Only one of these injuries occurred at the highest national level. The vertebral injury was a fracture at the C4-C7 level in six cases, a luxation at the C3-C4 level in one case, and one burst fracture of the T7. The neurologic deficit was paraplegia of lower extremities in three cases, and tetraplegia in five cases. The most common mechanism of the injury was pushing or checking from behind and hurling into boards (6 cases). Two players tripped on ice and collided with boards or an opponent. The follow-up period is now 1-14 years. SCIs are less studied in ice hockey in Europe than in Canada. The annual incidence seems to be lower, however. The larger European rinks may play there an important role. In the beginning of the 1990s in Finland changes in the rules and strict refereeing were introduced. We suppose that prohibiting pushing or checking from behind can prevent a considerable number of SCIs in ice hockey.