title: A significant cervical spine fracture: think of the airway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Airway compromise is a potential complication of significant cervical spine injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To alert emergency physicians to be aware of possible airway collapse after serious cervical spine injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of an 87-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with an unstable cervical spine fracture after a fall. He subsequently developed complete upper airway obstruction from prevertebral soft tissue swelling, requiring a cricothyrotomy after a failed intubation attempt.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with significant blunt cervical spine trauma can be at high risk for upper airway compromise.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cleiman
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nemeth
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vetere
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications