title: Distal cervical spine evaluation using swimmer's flexion-extension radiographs.
abstract: Radiographic evaluation of the cervical spine begins with anteroposterior, lateral, and odontoid views. Unless the junction of C7-T1 can be adequately visualized on the cross-table lateral view, a swimmer's view is often performed. After fractures and subluxations have been excluded with these nonstressed views, spinal stability may be evaluated with stressed view radiographs such as a flexion-extension series. However, there is currently no protocol for evaluating the distal spinal stability in patients in whom traditional flexion-extension radiographs fail to visualize the important distal C7-T1 juncture. The present case study describes a trauma patient suffering from neck pain in whom cervical spine instability was ruled out using a swimmer's flexion-extension technique. Further study of this technique as a supplement to the conventional flexion and extension views in the stressed assessment of the entire cervical spine is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davidorf
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D011859:Radiography; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*