How to prevent overlooking cervical spine injuries: pitfalls in spinal diagnostics.
Many patients with a cervical spine injury do not show clinical signs of the injury. Therefore, cervical spine trauma may not be recognized, especially in unconscious and multiply injured patients. Due to proximity to the spinal cord, neurological deficits inclusive of complete tetraplegia are possible. Since cervical spine injuries are typically associated with injuries at other spinal levels, accurate knowledge of the trauma mechanism is essential. Even mild clinical symptoms need to be carefully evaluated in a standardized fashion with clinical and radiological examinations including plane X-rays and possibly CT scans.
Lange
Uta
U
Department of Trauma Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30623, Hannover, Germany. lange.uta@gmx.de
Bastian
Leonard
L
Müller
Christian W
CW
Busche
Marc
M
Krettek
Christian
C
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000293:injuries