title: Increased risk of death with cervical spine immobilisation in penetrating cervical trauma.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if cervical spine immobilisation was related to patient mortality in penetrating cervical trauma. One hundred and ninety-nine patient charts from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (Charity Hospital, New Orleans) were examined. Charts were identified by searching the Charity Hospital Trauma Registry from 01/01/1994 to 04/17/2003 for all cases of penetrating cervical trauma. Thirty-five patient deaths were identified. Cervical spine immobilisation was associated with an increased risk of death (p<0.02, odds ratio 2.77, 95% CI 1.18-6.49).
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA. wvonried@umich.edu
authors.forename: Wesley B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Vanderlan
authors.forename: Beverly E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Tew
authors.forename: Norman E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: McSwain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055820:New Orleans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000401:mortality*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult