Publications by authors named "A K Sills"
Objective: There is a paucity of high-quality return-to-play (RTP) data following treatment of cervical spine injuries in contact sports. In this study, the authors gathered insights from National Football League (NFL) team spine surgeon consultants to highlight current practices in treating cervical spine injuries and report decision-making regarding RTP in professional American football players.
Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey was distributed to all NFL consulting physicians specializing in the management of spine injuries.
We report 2021 and 2022 prescription drug monitoring program data that include pain medication prescriptions, including over-the-counter medications, issued to NFL players by either club physicians or external medical providers and entered in the NFL electronic medical record. Of 3142 players who signed a contract with at least one NFL Club during the 2021 season, there were 14,903 prescriptions for pain medications issued to 2207 players. During the 2022 season, there were 14,880 prescription pain medications issued to 2189 players (out of a population of 3152).
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- The study aimed to determine if NFL players with concussions have a higher risk of injury upon returning to the game compared to non-concussed players and those with upper body injuries.
- The analysis involved a retrospective cohort study using data from 2015-2021 and employed Cox proportional hazards models to adjust for various factors like past injuries and player position.
- Results showed no significant difference in injury risk between concussed players and their non-concussed counterparts, suggesting that other factors, like deconditioning due to time missed, could be influencing injury rates for returning players.
Background And Objectives: While spinal cord neurapraxia (SCN) is a documented pathology in athletes, guidance for neurosurgeons evaluating these patients is sparse. Therefore, in a cohort of adolescent athletes with SCN, we sought to (1) review their presentation and management and (2) describe outcomes and return-to-play (RTP).
Methods: A single-center, retrospective case series was conducted to examine adolescent athletes diagnosed with SCN from 2017 to 2022.