Management of degenerative neck disease in sportsm M Taha, B Mathew Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK Introduction: Every spinal surgeon will be faced at some stage of his career with a sportsman suffering from acute or chronic cervical disc. Any type of treatment whether conservative or surgical will have a significant impact on sportsman’ future career. Objective: The aim of the study is to present our series and experience in this field and to do a literature search to see if there is any real evidence of how to treat this group of patients. Methods: Retrospective review of all cases of athletes with degenerative neck disease treated by the senior author over the last 5 years. A medline search of neck injury/ disease in sportsmen/ athletes was carried out ( 1966 till now) Results: Our series 10 patients, all male Age ( 46-23, mean: 33) Rugby player(6, 3 retired), golfer(2) , footballer(1), and tennis player(1) 4 professional Radiculopathy: 8 Radiculo-myelopathy: 1 Neck pain only: 1 6 patients treated with surgery and 4 non-operatively. All patients had a good outcome, and majority return to play within 3 months Literature search Neck injuries: 36 articles Cervical canal stenosis and stingers ( neuropraxia): 5 Degenerative cervical disc disease: 3 articles only. Recommendation Management similar to non-athletes Conservative unless - persistent, recurrent radicular pain - persistent, progressive deficit - myelopathy Surgery: always fusion Return to play: No neck pain or neurological symptoms Full, and painless ROM of the neck Evidence of fusion( op group) Case 1 23, M , professional footballer. 3 weeks of acute neck and right arm pain. O/E: - restricted neck ROM - 4/5 power of R. triceps - absent TJ - reduced C7 sensation No improvement with pain killer or physiotherapy Patient operated Good outcome, return to play Case 2 28, M , Rugby league player 3/52 Gradual onset of left arm Brachalgia after a tackle O/E: - mild neck ROM - slight weakness of wrist extension - reduced C6 dermatome sensation - reflexes intact Conservative treatment, good outcome Return to play REFERENCES: C.P.O’Brien: “Rugby Neck”: Cervical Degeneration in Two Front Row Rugby Union Players. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 1996;6(1): 56-9. S.C.Scherping, JR: Cervical Disc Disease in the Athlete. Clinics in Sports Medicine. 2002; 21(1):37-47. Katherine L. Dec: Non-operative Versus Operative Treatment of Acute Disc Injuries in Athletes. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2002,1:35-42