Spinal injury: optimising the imaging options.
There have been numerous documented attempts in formulating risk-based guidelines for the exclusion of spinal injury using conventional radiography. Although the advent of computed tomography (CT) (including spiral and multi-slice) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the known limitations of conventional radiography, there is still a requirement to define optional use of these modalities in a trauma setting. This chapter addresses these issues by reviewing the literature and provides a synopsis of the current thinking in the appropriate sections (adult, paediatric, symptomatic, asymptomatic, etc.) in the quest of finding out the correct answers on how best to exclude/confirm spinal trauma.
Cassar-Pullicino
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The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt, Orthop. & District Hospital, NHS Trust, Oswestry-Shropshire SY10 7AG, UK. wendy.pullicino@rjahoh-tr.wmids.nhs.uk
D000367:Age Factors; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods