title: Head and Cervical Spine Evaluation for the Pediatric Surgeon.
abstract: This article is designed to guide pediatric surgeons in the evaluation and stabilization of blunt head and cervical spine injuries in pediatric patients. Trauma remains the number one cause of morbidity and mortality among children, and the incidence of head injuries continues to rise. Cervical spine injuries, on the other hand, are unusual but can be devastating if missed. This article highlights the pathophysiology unique to pediatric head and cervical spine trauma as well as keys to clinical and diagnostic evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan 3, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: mary.thorpe@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Arbuthnot
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan 3, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mooney
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Akron Children's Hospital, 1 Perkins Square, Suite 8400, Akron, OH 44308, USA.
authors.forename: Ian C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Glenn
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000601:surgery*; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Cervical spine; Evaluation; Imaging; Pediatric trauma; Traumatic brain injury