[Acute diagnosis of spinal trauma].
Most traumatic spinal injuries result from a high-energy process and are accompanied by other injuries. Following the CCSPR study, the presence of all low-risk factors (simple trauma mechanism, fully conscious, ambulatory at any time since trauma, neck rotation exceeding 45 degrees bilaterally) obviates the need to acutely image the cervical spine. Imaging is indicated in all other patients. Emergency spiral CT should be performed as the first imaging method in high-risk and moderate-risk patients; only in low-risk patients should conventional radiography be performed and trusted as the sole modality. The AO classification according to Magerl et al. is used for the subaxial spine, whereas the upper cervical spine should be classified separately because the anatomy is different at each level. Radiological evaluation of traumatic spinal injuries should be done systematically using the "ABCS" scheme.
Rieger
M
M
Universitätsklinik für Radiodiagnostik, Medizinische Universität, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Osterreich. Michael.Rieger@uibk.ac.at
Mallouhi
A
A
El-Attal
R
R
Kathrein
A
A
Knop
C
C
Blauth
M
M
Jaschke
W
W
D000208:Acute Disease; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed