A 23-year-old healthy male division one football player felt a pop in his neck while weightlifting. Initial symptoms were left arm pain, radiculopathy, and global weakness. X-rays were negative for fracture or dislocation (Fig. 1, 2).
His left arm pain and radiculopathy resolved with 2 weeks of rest, but, thereafter, he continued to have subjective weakness in his triceps. His main complaint was the loss push off strength with his dumb bell bench press. He could bench 110lbs on the right arm compared to only 65lbs with his left arm.
At the 2-week mark post-injury, on physical examination, he had normal strength, sensation, and reflexes throughout the left upper extremity. The only positive finding was he had triceps muscle wasting.
After 6 weeks post-injury and completion of physical therapy, stretching, and NSAID's, a MRI was obtained. This showed a left paracentral C6-C7 disk herniation extending into the foramen, causing foraminal stenosis and his symptoms (Fig. 3, 4).
Due to significant muscle wasting and continued weakness after a course of conservative management, a C6-C7 anterior discectomy and arthroplasty were performed by a fellowship trained spine surgeon (Fig. 5, 6, 7, 8).
In the post-operative setting, he underwent 4 weeks of rest. At the 4-week mark, he gradually increased his lifting and started performing running and agility drills with the team. At 8 weeks, he was cleared to return to sport.
He is currently 9 months out from surgery and competing in contact sports without any complications.