Analyse eines tödlich ausgegangenen Boxkampfes mit ungewöhnlich schweren cerebralen Schäden

Abstract

A boxing match with fatal outcome is described. The boxer received 21 punches in the nape of his neck, as well as many other blows. After a knock out in the 15th round he conceded the fight; some minutes later he suddenly collapsed. Deep unconsciousness, maximal dilated pupils and extensor-spasms were observed but respiration continued. Although it was possible to evacuate a subdural hematoma 30 to 45 min later, a high-grade cerebral oedema remained resistant to therapy. In addition hypoxemia caused disseminated necroses of heart-muscle fibres. Intensive hemorrhages were detected in the cervical muscles and in the dorsal parts of the intervertebral discs on the level of C 2/3 and C 3/4. Neuropathological investigation revealed the typical alterations brought about by craniotomy carried out for a subdural hematoma caused by the tearing off of Vv. cerebralis superiores, as well as extensive contusion hemorrhages. The high-grade cerebral oedema caused congestion and dislocation which led to massive hemorrhages, hypoxemia to unusually extensive hemorrhagical and white necroses of cortex and brain stem ganglions. Special attention is paid to the pathogenesis of these findings. A report on boxing--particularly professional boxing--issued by the Federal Institute of Sport Medicine in Cologne in 1977 is critically analysed.

History of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

“…9,10 Over the next decade, more case reports accumulated that documented further evidence of chronic degeneration in mental function. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Then in 1969, at the behest of the Royal College of Physicians of London, Dr. A.H. Roberts published a monograph reviewing the medical literature to that point and presenting studies of 224 professional boxers registered with the British Board of Boxing Control between 1929 and 1955. According to Roberts, the clinical picture of the punch drunk syndrome in its mildest form includes some or all of the following features: dysarthria, problems with muscular control resembling those of Parkinson's disease, spasticity, tremor, and dementia.…”

Doping stigmata as pathological clinical signs in the diagnostic field of sports anthropology

“…They may cause danger to life, above all, under the influence of additional stress factors such as heat exposure, fluid loss or trauma etc. [50,82,4,8].…”