title: Emergency department evaluation and treatment of cervical spine injuries.
abstract: Most spinal cord injuries involve the cervical spine, highlighting the importance of recognition and proper management by emergency physicians. Initial cervical spine injury management should follow the ABCDE (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure) procedure detailed by Advanced Trauma Life Support. NEXUS (National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study) criteria and Canadian C-spine Rule are clinical decision-making tools providing guidelines of when to obtain imaging. Computed tomography scans are the preferred initial imaging modality. Consider administering intravenous methylprednisolone after discussion with the neurosurgical consultant in patients who present with spinal cord injuries within 8 hours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Georgetown University/Washington Hospital Center Emergency Medicine Residency, 110 Irving Street Northwest, NA-1177, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Electronic address: rajdeep.s.kanwar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rajdeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kanwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving Street Northwest, NA-1177, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Electronic address: Bronson.E.Delasobera@medstar.net.
authors.forename: Bronson E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Delasobera
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Road Northwest, Ground Floor CCC Building, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors.forename: Korin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Georgetown University/Washington Hospital Center Emergency Medicine Residency, 110 Irving Street Northwest, NA-1177, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Frohna
mesh_terms: D058109:Airway Management / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Cervical spine; Cooling; Corticosteroid use; Emergency department; Neurologic injury; Spinal cord