Acute traumatic spinal injury following bicycle accidents: a report of three cases
McGoldrick, N.P.; Green, C.; Burke, N.; Synnott, K.
Acta Orthopaedica Belgica 78(3): 409-413
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6462 PMID: 22822586 Document Number: 657581
Although the vast majority of injuries suffered while cycling are minor, acute spinal injuries have been reported. We describe three cases of acute spinal injury occurring while cycling. All three patients reported being thrown over the handlebars, while travelling downhill at speed. Two of the cases resulted in profound neurological deficit. These cases show that there is a spectrum of spinal injury due to bicycle accidents, ranging from no neurological deficit to profound insult, and from high cervical injury to mid-thoracic spinal injury. In cases of bicycle accidents, increased awareness of the possibility of such spinal injury is advisable.