Acute Traumatic Cervical Injury

Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine with Modern Orthopedic Screening

21-Year-Old Male Rugby Trauma Case Study

The Clinical Narrative

A high-impact blunt trauma sustained during a rugby match initiated a cascade of physiological disruptions. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, this contact caused immediate Qi and Blood Stagnation, which transitioned into localized Traumatic Heat within 48 hours. This infographic tracks the objective and subjective evolution of the patient from the acute inflammatory stage to the subacute development of secondary somatic referred pain.

Pain Intensity (VAS)

Visualizing the shift from sharp acute pain to deep subacute soreness.

Key Takeaway: While numerical pain dropped, the nature of pain shifted from local throbbing to distal radiation.

Mobility Achievement

Percentage of normal range achieved in shoulder abduction (Normal = 180°).

Status: 10° improvement noted in Session 2, moving closer to functional rugby return.

TCM Diagnostics

PULSE STATUS

Wiry & Rapid

Indicating Pain & Heat Stagnation

TONGUE STATUS

Red / Yellow Fur

Confirming Inflammatory Phase

Comparative Range of Motion (AROM) Analysis

Joint mobility is the primary objective marker for recovery. The radar chart below compares the cervical and shoulder mobility between the first and second sessions. Note the significant recovery in Neck Extension and Shoulder Abduction despite the patient's subjective report of new radiation symptoms.

Cervical Spine Evolution

Improvement from 40° to 50° in Extension suggests effective muscle de-spasming via GB20 and SI3 stimulation.

Shoulder Girdle Recovery

Abduction increased by 10°. SI11 (Tianzong) targeted the focal stasis in the infraspinatus, facilitating lift.

Static Metrics

Lateral Flexion and Rotation remained unchanged, indicating deeper ligamentous guarding or unresolved trigger points.

Clinical Safety & Screening

When radiating pain developed in Session 2, a differential diagnosis was critical to distinguish between Nerve Compression and Muscle Referral.

✓

Spurling's Test: Negative

No mechanical nerve root compression detected.

✓

Myotomal Strength: 5/5

Motor pathways (C5-T1) are fully intact.

✓

Reflexes: 2+ Normal

Deep tendon reflexes show no signal disruption.

Result: Diagnosis confirmed as Somatic Referred Pain from myofascial trigger points.

Neuro-Red Flags

The patient was educated on critical "Stop" indicators requiring emergency assessment:

01 Progressive limb weakness or loss of grip strength.

02 Constant, non-fading numbness or "pins and needles."

03 New onset of bladder/bowel dysfunction.

04 Night pain so severe it prevents sleep despite changes in position.

Integrated Treatment Strategy

GB20 Fengchi

Expels Wind, relaxes neck muscles, and clears the Shaoyang channel.

SI11 Tianzong

Disperses Blood stasis and resolves focal pain in the infraspinatus region.

SI3 Houxi

Distal opening point for the Taiyang; unlocks the cervical spine.

TDP Lamp

Thermal radiation clears inflammatory mediators and eases deep tension.

Documentation: TCM-SP-21M-RUGBY