Clinical presentation of patients with acute cervical spine injury.
A retrospective review of 67 patients with acute cervical spine fracture and/or dislocation was conducted at two suburban community hospital emergency departments. The mean age was 39, and two-thirds of the patients were male. Motor vehicle accidents and falls accounted for more than 80% of all injuries. On emergency department evaluation, it was found that there was no history of loss of consciousness in 42 patients (63%), no associated cranio-facial injuries in 31 patients (46%), and a normal sensorimotor examination in 59 patients (88%). Thirty-four patients (50%) were evaluated for cervical range of motion, which was found to be normal in one-third of the cases. The absence of mental status changes, cranio-facial injuries, range of motion abnormalities, and focal neurological findings is, therefore, not uncommon in patients who have sustained cervical spine injury.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000150:complications