Burners, Stingers, and Cervical Cord Neurapraxia/Transient Quadriparesis

Abstract

Transient neurological injuries involving the cervical spine and upper extremities are temporary sensory and/or motor deficits that typically resolve within minutes. They range from peripheral injuries such as burners or stingers to cervical cord neurapraxia and spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA). The medical provider must be comfortable in the diagnosis and approach to the various transient neurological injuries in young athletes, as their management and potential implications for future injury differ. In the older or professional athlete, developmental or acquired narrowing of the spinal canal may present a risk for recurrent reversible or irreversible neurological injury, and debate exists as to the approach to return to play for these athletes after sustaining a transient injury.