Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2025 Aug 21. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000005464. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: Modified Delphi consensus survey.
OBJECTIVE: To survey expert opinion on postoperative return-to-sport (RTS) decisions in athletes requiring cervical spine surgery.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Postoperative sport participation recommendations for athletes requiring cervical spine surgery are lacking, and management of these athletes remains challenging.
METHODS: A cross-sectional, modified Delphi consensus survey investigating RTS decisions in athletes requiring various cervical spine operations was undertaken. A panel of neurosurgery/orthopedic spine surgeons with sport expertise was identified from the United States and Australia. Single and multi-level cervical spine surgical conditions studied included: anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical laminectomy and laminoplasty, posterior cervical fusion, occipito-cervical fusion, C1 fracture, and C1-C2 fusion. A 2×2 scheme was used to classify sport risk based on impact forces and frequency: low impact/low frequency, low impact/high frequency, high impact/low frequency, and high impact/high frequency. Consensus was a-priori defined at ≥70%. Descriptive statistics were performed.
RESULTS: Of the 34 sports spine surgeons invited (56% neurosurgeons and 44% orthopedic surgeons), survey completion was 100%. Consensus was achieved to recommend return to high impact/high frequency sport for individuals with 1-level ACDF, 1-level cervical laminectomy, 1-level posterior cervical fusion, and for a healed C1 fracture treated with open reduction and internal fixation. For individuals with a healed occipito-cervical fusion, consensus was achieved to recommend return to low impact/low frequency sport.
CONCLUSIONS: Consensus was achieved to recommend return to high impact/high frequency sport after surgical treatment of a variety of cervical pathologies in athletes. Certain situations received consensus recommendations to return to low impact/low frequency sport, while many others did not reach a consensus. These results provide useful data that can help spine surgeons navigate challenging postoperative RTS decisions.
PMID:40838273 | DOI:10.1097/BRS.0000000000005464
