KnotesFree Orthopaedic & FRCS notes, viva stations and higher order SBAs
Spine

Sports-Related Spinal Problems

SpinethinKbox SBA

Burner/Stingers

  • Mechanism: Head forced away from the stretched shoulder
  • Pathology: Transient brachial plexus neuropraxia
  • Associated with:
    • Cervical stenosis
    • Foraminal stenosis
    • OPLL (Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament)

Symptoms

  • Electric shock-like intense burning pain in arm & neck
  • Intense
  • Weakness
  • Usually unilateral

Management

  • Monitor for recovery
  • If recovery is swift, no further investigation is needed
  • Rule out other pathology if persistent with MRI

Transient Quadriplegia

  • Mechanism: Axial loading or hyperextension injury
  • Presentation: May present as paraplegia but often quadriplegia
  • Recovery: Recovers over 48 hours

Associated with

  • Cervical stenosis (Torg <0.8; SAC <14mm)
  • Congenital C-spine fusions
  • C3/4 & C4/5 most commonly affected

Management

  • Monitor for improvement
  • Investigate with MRI if no improvement or worsening of symptoms

Related FRCS revision notes

Scoliosis (AIS)Rheumatoid Cervical SpineSpinal Cord InjuryCervical Spine AbnormalitiesClinical Examination of the SpineLumbar Spinal Stenosis (Spine)

Linked from

← Spine← Scoliosis (AIS)← Spinal Cord Injury

Written/reviewed by Kishore Puthezhath

Professor of Orthopaedics and Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon

FRCS (Tr & Orth) revision resource

Reviewed: September 2026

Core revision references: Miller's Review of Orthopaedics; Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics; Orthobullets. Current specialty guidelines are linked within individual notes where applicable.