Background Radiological evaluation is very important in spinal trauma patients, specially during sport activity.

Aim Aim of this study was to analyze the type of sport activity, the timing of injury, the radiological evaluation and the role of X-Ray, CT and MRI findings in 40 patients with spinal trauma during sport activities (amateur and professional).

Material/Methods During a five year period (2005–2009) we analyzed 40 patients with spinal trauma during sports activity. 35 male (87.5%) and 5 female(12.5%), range 14–64 years, mean age 39.5 years.

Results We analyzed first the type of sport activity, amateur (group a, thirty patients 75%) professional (group b, ten patients, 25%), then the timing of injury, recent trauma (group 1, twenty-five patients 62.5%) and chronic trauma, more than 10 days after the initial injury (group 2, fifteen patients, 37.5%) and the radiological investigation, only X-ray and ctscan (group I, four patients, 10%), X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan (group II, thirty-six patients, 90%). We found three intramedullary hematomas, two intramedullary contusions, one epidural hematoma, five vertebral fractures, four facet joints dislocations, three herniated discs.

Conclusions The MRI investigation was very helpful to find four sclerotic post traumatic bone changes and one medullary transection. Further studies were warranted but the combination of CT and MRI is is very useful tool for the evaluation, for the therapeutic approach and for the final result in patients with spinal trauma.