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Radiographic Abnormalities of the Lumbar Spine in College Football Players

A Comparative Analysis

Darron M. Jones, MD^*,, David S. Tearse, MD^*, Georges Y. El-Khoury, MD, Mary H. Kathol, MD and Eric A. Brandser, MD

^* Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Darron M. Jones, MD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242

The purpose of this study was to make a direct comparison between lumbar spine radiographs of incoming college football players and of an age-matched control group to determine whether there is a higher prevalence of lumbar spine abnormalities in football players before competing at the Division I level. We reviewed 187 lumbar spine radiographs. Of these, 104 were taken as a standard part of the preparticipation physical examination for incoming college football players. The remaining 83 radiographs were taken during routine preemployment physicals at a local factory. Each radiograph was read independently by three separate orthopaedic radiologists in a blinded fashion. Data were collected and statistically evaluated for 13 variables. The rate of spondylolysis was only 4.8% in our group of athletes and 6.0% in the control group (not significantly different). Only in the category of degenerative changes was a significant difference found. The control group had a 16.9% incidence of disk space narrowing and spurring and the football players had a 6.7% incidence. The remainder of the variables were not significantly different between the two groups. Our findings differ from previously published reports and indicate that football players entering college at the Division I level may have a similar prevalence of radiographic lumbar spine abnormalities, including spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, as age-matched controls.

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