title: Emergency Neurological Life Support: Traumatic Spine Injury.
abstract: Traumatic spine injuries (TSIs) carry significantly high risks of morbidity, mortality, and exorbitant health care costs from associated medical needs following injury. For these reasons, TSI was chosen as an ENLS protocol. This article offers a comprehensive review on the management of spinal column injuries using the best available evidence. Alhough the review focuses primarily on cervical spinal column injuries, thoracolumbar injuries are briefly discussed as well. The initial emergency department clinical evaluation of possible spinal fractures and cord injuries, along with the definitive early management of confirmed injuries, is also covered.
authors.affiliation: R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. dstein@umm.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, Broward Health Medical Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roddy
authors.affiliation: Departments of Emergency Medicine and Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Knight
mesh_terms: D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000379:methods*; D009462:Neurology / Q000379:methods*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Neurotrauma; Spine fracture; Traumatic myelopathy