Open AccessCervical spine clearance in adult trauma patients
Author(s) -
Brian K. Yorkgitis,
Dayle McCauley
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of the american academy of physician assistants
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.24
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 0893-7400
DOI - 10.1097/01.jaa.0000552718.90865.53
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical spine , blunt trauma , cervical spine injury , blunt , radiology , surgery
Up to 4% of adults with blunt trauma suffer cervical spine injury. Clinicians who evaluate trauma patients can use validated clinical decision tools to assess whether patients are at risk for these injuries. Beyond these tools, imaging (most often CT) remains the mainstay of evaluation. Further challenges exist when patients have persistent pain or cannot be evaluated clinically. This article reviews the evidence available to assist clinicians in evaluating adults for significant cervical spine injury after blunt trauma.