Injury to the head and face in patients with cervical spine injury.
The charts of 81 patients with acute cervical spine fracture and/or subluxation were reviewed to determine the incidence of injury to the soft tissue and bone of the head or face in these patients. Motor vehicle accidents accounted for over 69% of these injuries. Only 33 patients had concomitant soft tissue injury to the head or face, and only five had facial and/or skull fractures. Injuries of the skull and face do not usually accompany cervical fractures, and our findings do not support the restriction of post-traumatic cervical spine radiography in the emergency department to patients with obvious head or facial trauma.
D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications