Declining Incidence of Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injuries in French Rugby

Results: There were 37 cases of catastrophic cervical spine injuries in French rugby for the last 10 years. The incidence of the cervical spine injuries decreased during this period. The rates of injury were 2.1 per 100 000 players per year during the 1996- 1997 season and 1.4 during the 2005-2006 season (P < .01). The scrum was a major cause of injury, accounting for 51.3% (19/37). The forwards represented 89.2% (33/37) of the injured players. The hookers were involved in 37.8% (14/37) of the cases. The measures of prevention with the modification of the rules of scrum and the creation of a medical certificate required for play- ers to play in the front row must have been successful. Conclusion: The incidence of disabling cervical spine injuries in French rugby has decreased for the last 10 years, which is linked to the decreasing incidence of injuries in the scrum. This epidemiological study shows the effectiveness of the preventive meas- ures on cervical spine injuries in French rugby players. A national register of catastrophic cervical spine injuries extends our epi- demiological observations.