Controversies in "clearing" trauma to the cervical spine.
Clearance of the traumatic cervical spine is a subject affecting most healthcare professionals dealing with trauma patients. There is a host of often contradictory literature making it hard for an interested reader to come to their own informed opinion based on the current evidence. This review aims to outline the relevant literature for the clearance of the traumatic cervical spine with the particular aim of highlighting the contradictions, controversies and unanswered questions still besetting this important subject. A brief, subjective opinion for a combined clinical and imaging protocol for clearance of the traumatic cervical spine is given.
Tins
Bernhard
B
Department of Radiology, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital, Oswestry, United Kingdom. Bernhard.Tins@rjah.nhs.uk
Cassar-Pullicino
Victor
V
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed