Cervical spine injury masquerading as a medical emergency.
Two cases of cervical spine fractures presenting as cardiac arrest in one case and as a coma with pneumonia and cervical osteomyelitis in the other are discussed. They demonstrate the need for careful history taking as well as a cautious approach to the cervical spine when accurate historical data are not available.
Barron
M M
MM
Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004630:Emergencies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*