Spinal Cord Injury Risk

Future studies should test whether anatomical differences translate into measurable spinal cord injury risk differences. The clinical motivation concerned spinal cord injury risk among adolescent athletes in high-impact sports. A narrowed cervical spinal canal is considered an anatomical risk factor because it may reduce reserve against traumatic forces. Earlier narrowing of the canal:VB ratio could theoretically reduce spinal canal biomechanical reserve during adolescence. The anatomical pattern may contribute to differential vulnerability to spinal cord injury in high-energy trauma or collision sports.