Cervical spine injury complicating facial trauma: incidence and management.
OBJECTIVE
To review the impact of concomitant cervical spine injury on the management of facial fractures in a tertiary care institution via a retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Within the past 10 years, 1,750 consecutive patients presented to our institution with facial fractures. Thirty-two had concomitant cervical spine injury. Five were transferred or died before treatment. The remaining 27 charts were reviewed in detail.


RESULTS
The incidence of cervical spine injury among patients with facial fractures in our study was 1.8%. There were no treatment delays attributed to these injuries. Of note was the inaccuracy of lateral cervical spine films in 9 of 27 cases (33%).


CONCLUSIONS
Although uncommon, cervical spine injury must be thoroughly ruled out before evaluation and management of facial trauma. Concomitant cervical spine injury should not delay appropriate and timely treatment of facial fractures because adequate means of intraoperative stabilization are readily available.
Merritt
R M
RM
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-4060, USA.
Williams
M F
MF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors