'Burning hands' in football spinal cord injuries.

Central spinal cord injury in two high school football players caused only complaints of burning paresthesias and dysesthesias in the hands at the time of injury. Strength was affected only in the upper extremities where it was slightly reduced. Failure to recognize the relationship of "burning hands" as a symptom of cord injury can result in injudicious management of unstable cervical fracture dislocations with disastrous consequences.