Which mechanism can cause a cervical spine fracture in contact sports?

• A. Hyperextension without contact
• B. Lateral bending
• C. Axial loading
• D. Rotational twisting

Answer: (C)

When a vertical compressive force passes through the neck, a cervical spine fracture can occur. In contact sports, this happens when the head is driven down or an impact is delivered along the length of the spine, transmitting an axial load through the cervical vertebrae. The vertebral bodies can crack or collapse under this kind of pressure, leading to fractures such as wedge or burst types. Other movements like bending to the side, twisting, or hyperextending can injure ligaments, joints, or cause dislocations more often than a pure fracture from compression, so axial loading is the mechanism most likely to produce a cervical fracture in these scenarios.