title: Diagnostic value of tomography of the cervical spine in victims of blunt trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to assess the value of computed tomography in the diagnosis of cervical spine and spinal cord injuries in victims of blunt trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  we reviewed the charts of blunt trauma victims from January 2006 to December 2008. We analyzed the following data: epidemiology, mechanism of trauma, transportation of victims to the hospital, intra-hospital care, indication criteria for CT, diagnosis, treatment and evolution of the victims. The victims were divided into two groups: Group I - without cervical spine injury, Group II - with cervical spine injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  we gathered medical records from 3,101 victims. Computed tomography was performed in 1572 (51%) patients, with male predominance (79%) and mean age of 38.53 years in Group I and 37.60 years in Group II. The distribution of trauma mechanisms was similar in both groups. Lesions found included: 53 fractures, eight vertebral listeses and eight spinal cord injuries. Sequelae included: paraplegia in three cases, quadriplegia in eight and brain injury in five. There were seven deaths in Group II and 240 in Group I. The average length of hospital stay was 11 days for Group I and 26.2 days for Group II. CONCLUSION. A CT scan of the cervical spine in victims of blunt trauma was effective in identifying lesions of the cervical spine and spinal cord injuries. Thus, despite the cost of neck CT and the low incidence of lesions identified by it, its indication based on the usual criteria seems justified.
authors: Advanced Program, FMUSP-SP-BR. dfcp88@hotmail.com
authors: Daniel Faria de Campos
authors: DF
authors: Pinheiro
authors: Belchor
authors: B
authors: Fontes
authors: John Kioshi
authors: JK
authors: Shimazaki
authors: Celso de
authors: Cd
authors: Oliveira Bernini
authors: Samir
authors: S
authors: Rasslan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult