The head and the cervical spine are unique in that their contents, the brain and the spinal cord, are largely incapable of regeneration. Thus, injury to the head and neck takes on a singular importance. Today, many parts of the body can be replaced, either by artificial hardware or transplanted parts, but the head and spine are not included because their contents cannot be transplanted. Furthermore, injuries to the head and neck are the most frequent catastrophic athletic injury.<sup>14 Mueller F.O., Schindler R.D.   Annual Survey of Football Injury Research 1931–1996 : American Football Coaches Association, NCAA, and National Federation of State High School Associations (1996). 

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Table 1 lists the sports most hazardous to the head and neck. Health professionals responsible for the care of athletes who may sustain head and neck trauma should carry out certain organizational decisions before the session begins. First, a “captain” of the medical team responsible for supervising on-the-field management of the injured athlete should be designated. Although this will usually be a team physician, in certain localities it may be an athletic trainer or an emergency medical technician (EMT). Second, all the necessary emergency equipment for the head- or spine-injured athlete should be on the sidelines. At a minimum, this would include equipment essential for the initiation and maintenance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a spine board, and a stretcher. Third, a properly equipped ambulance must be at the athletic field, as well as a triage plan with a hospital with full neurosurgical diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. This should include telephone or other communication equipment affording direct communication from the field to the ambulance to the hospital and other responsible individuals in case of emergency.