Neck Injury

1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-28
Author(s):  
Jeffrey R. Avner

Although rare in pediatrics, cervical spine injuries still are associated with serious morbidity, disability, and mortality. Many of these injuries are exacerbated by inadequate neck immobilization or improper manipulation. Thus, the physician should be aware of which children are at risk for cervical spine injury and how to assess these patients properly. To find clinical markers that identify children who actually have cervical spine injuries, Rachesky et al reviewed 2133 cervical spine radiographs obtained in pediatric patients during a 7-year period. Of these children, 25 (1.2%) had abnormalities confirmed on radiographs. The incidence of injury increased with age; only four of the children who had cervical spine injuries were less than 8 years old.

CJEM ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (02) ◽  
pp. 131-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrik P. Van Zyl ◽  
James Bilbey ◽  
Alan Vukusic ◽  
Todd Ring ◽  
Jennifer Oakes ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: Emergency physicians are expected to rule out clinically important cervical spine injuries using clinical skills and imaging. Our objective was to determine whether emergency physicians could accurately rule out clinically important cervical spine injuries using computed tomographic (CT) imaging of the cervical spine. Method: Fifteen emergency physicians were enrolled to interpret a sample of 50 cervical spine CT scans in a nonclinical setting. The sample contained a 30% incidence of cervical spine injury. After a 2-hour review session, the participants interpreted the CT scans and categorized them into either a suspected cervical spine injury or no cervical spine injury. Participants were asked to specify the location and type of injury. The gold standard interpretation was the combined opinion of two staff radiologists. Results: Emergency physicians correctly identified 182 of the 210 abnormal cases with cervical spine injury. The sensitivity of emergency physicians was 87% (95% confidence interval [CI] 82–91), and the specificity was 76% (95% CI 74–77). The negative likelihood ratio was 0.18 (95% CI 0.12–0.25). Conclusion: Experienced emergency physicians successfully identified a large proportion of cervical spine injuries on CT; however, they were not sufficiently sensitive to accurately exclude clinically important injuries. Emergency physicians should rely on a radiologist review of cervical spine CT scans prior to discontinuing cervical spine precautions.


2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Jagannathan ◽  
Aaron S. Dumont ◽  
Daniel M. Prevedello ◽  
Christopher I. Shaffrey ◽  
John A. Jane

✓Sports-related injuries to the spine, although relatively rare compared with head injuries, contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in children. The reported incidence of traumatic cervical spine injury in pediatric athletes varies, and most studies are limited because of the low prevalence of injury. The anatomical and biomechanical differences between the immature spine of pediatric patients and the mature spine of adults that make pediatric patients more susceptible to injury include a greater mobility of the spine due to ligamentous laxity, shallow angulations of facet joints, immature development of neck musculature, and incomplete ossification of the vertebrae. As a result of these differences, 60 to 80% of all pediatric vertebral injuries occur in the cervical region. Understanding pediatric injury biomechanics in the cervical spine is important to the neurosurgeon, because coaches, parents, and athletes who place themselves in positions known to be associated with spinal cord injury (SCI) run a higher risk of such injury and paralysis. The mechanisms of SCI can be broadly subclassified into five types: axial loading, dislocation, lateral bending, rotation, and hyperflexion/hyperextension, although severe injuries often result from a combination of more than one of these subtypes. The aim of this review was to detail the characteristics and management of pediatric cervical spine injury.


2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 773-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian W. Ong ◽  
Aurelio Rodriguez ◽  
Robert Kelly ◽  
Vicente Cortes ◽  
Jack Protetch ◽  
...  

There are differing recommendations in the literature regarding cervical spine imaging in alert, asymptomatic geriatric patients. Previous studies also have not used computed tomography routinely. Given that cervical radiographs may miss up to 60 per cent of fractures, the incidence of cervical spine injuries in this population and its implications for clinical management are unclear. We conducted a retrospective study of blunt trauma patients 65 years and older who were alert, asymptomatic, hemodynamically stable, and had normal neurologic examinations. For inclusion, patients were required to have undergone computed tomography and plain radiographs. The presence and anatomic location of potentially distracting injuries or pain were recorded. Two hundred seventy-four patients were included, with a mean age of 76 ± 10 years. The main mechanisms of injury were falls (51%) and motor vehicle crashes (41%). Nine of 274 (3%) patients had cervical spine injuries. The presence of potentially distracting injuries above the clavicles was associated with cervical injury when compared with patients with distracting injuries in other anatomic locations or no distracting injuries (8/115 vs 1/159, P = 0.03). There was no association of cervical spine injury with age greater or less than 75 years or with mechanism of injury. The overall incidence of cervical spine injury in the alert, asymptomatic geriatric population is low. The risk is increased with a potentially distracting injury above the clavicles. Patients with distracting injuries in other anatomic locations or no distracting injuries may not need routine cervical imaging.


CJEM ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
pp. 25-33
Author(s):  
William Pickett ◽  
Atif Kukaswadia ◽  
Wendy Thompson ◽  
Mylene Frechette ◽  
Steven McFaull ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTObjectives:This study assessed the use and clinical yield of diagnostic imaging (radiography, computed tomography, and medical resonance imaging) ordered to assist in the diagnosis of acute neck injuries presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in Kingston, Ontario, from 2002–2003 to 2009–2010.Methods:Acute neck injury cases were identified using records from the Kingston sites of the Canadian National Ambulatory Care Reporting System. Use of radiography was analyzed over time and related to proportions of cases diagnosed with clinically significant cervical spine injuries.Results:A total of 4,712 neck injury cases were identified. Proportions of cases referred for diagnostic imaging to the neck varied significantly over time, from 30.4% in 2002–2003 to 37.6% in 2009–2010 (ptrend= 0.02). The percentage of total cases that were positive for clinically significant cervical spine injury (“clinical yield”) also varied from a low of 5.8% in 2005–2006 to 9.2% in 2008–2009 (ptrend= 0.04), although the clinical yield of neck-imaged cases did not increase across the study years (ptrend= 0.23). Increased clinical yield was not observed in association with higher neck imaging rates whether that yield was expressed as a percentage of total cases positive for clinically significant injury (p= 0.29) or as a percentage of neck-imaged cases that were positive (p= 0.77).Conclusions:We observed increases in the use of diagnostic images over time, reflecting a need to reinforce an existing clinical decision rule for cervical spine radiography. Temporal increases in the clinical yield for total cases may suggest a changing case mix or more judicious use of advanced types of diagnostic imaging.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ákos Bicsák ◽  
Robert Sarge ◽  
Oliver Müller ◽  
Stefan Hassfeld ◽  
Lars Bonitz

Abstract Concomitant maxillofacial and cervical spine injuries occur in 0.8%-12% of the cases. We examined the relation of injury localization and the probability of cervical spine fracture.A retrospective study was conducted on patients that have been treated at Dortmund General Hospital for injuries both to the maxillofacial region and to the cervical spine between January 1st, 2007 and December 31th, 2017. Descriptive statistical methods were used to describe the correlation of cervical spine injuries with gender, age as well as maxillofacial injury localization.7708 patients were hospitalized with maxillofacial injury, among them 173 were identified with cervical spine injury. The average ages for both genders lie remarkably above the average of all maxillofacial trauma patients (36.2 y.o. in male and 50.9 y.o. in female). In the group of men, most injuries were found between the ages of 50 and 65. Whereas most injuries among women occurred after the age of 80. The relative ratio of cervical spine injuries (CSI) varies between 1.1% and 5.26% of the maxillofacial injuries (MFI), being highest in the soft tissue injury group, patients with forehead fractures (3.12%) and patients with panfacial fractures (2.52%). Further, nasal, Le Fort I and II, zygomatic complex and mandibular condyle fractures are often associated with CSI. Fractures next to the Frankfurt horizontal plane represent 87.7% of all MFI with concomitant CSI. Patients in critical age groups with a high-energy injury are more likely to suffer both, MFI and CSI injuries. Our findings help to avoid missing the diagnosis of cervical spine injury in maxillofacial trauma patients.


2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (172) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Agrawal

Cervical spine injury is relatively rare, occurring in only 2% to 3% of patients with blunt traumawho undergo imaging studies. However, timely and accurate recognition of cervical spine injuryis essential for the optimal management of patients with blunt trauma as subsequent morbidity includesprolonged immobilization. Evaluation of cervical spine injuries should begin in the emergencydepartment and involves a combination of pediatric, trauma, orthopedic, and neurosurgeons fordefinitive management. Knowing which patients are at highest risk for injuries will undoubtedlyinfluence decisions on how aggressively to pursue a potential cervical spine injury and can be achievedby establishing a multidisciplinary team approach that provides cervical spine immobilization,assessment, and clearance. Implementation of such guidelines will decrease time for cervical spineclearance and incidence of missed injuries. In this article different aspects of cervical spine injuriesand cervical spine clearance protocols are reviewed.Key words: cervical, injury, trauma, spine, vertebrae


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ákos Bicsák ◽  
Robert Sarge ◽  
Oliver Müller ◽  
Stefan Hassfeld ◽  
Lars Bonitz

AbstractConcomitant maxillofacial and cervical spine injuries occur in 0.8–12% of the cases. We examined the relation of injury localization and the probability of cervical spine fracture. A retrospective study was conducted on patients that have been treated at Dortmund General Hospital for injuries both to the maxillofacial region and to the cervical spine between January 1st, 2007 and December 31th, 2017. Descriptive statistical methods were used to describe the correlation of cervical spine injuries with gender, age as well as maxillofacial injury localization. 7708 patients were hospitalized with maxillofacial injury, among them 173 were identified with cervical spine injury. The average ages for both genders lie remarkably above the average of all maxillofacial trauma patients (36.2 y.o. in male and 50.9 y.o. in female). In the group of men, most injuries were found between the ages of 50 and 65. Whereas most injuries among women occurred after the age of 80. The relative ratio of cervical spine injuries (CSI) varies between 1.1 and 5.26% of the maxillofacial injuries (MFI), being highest in the soft tissue injury group, patients with forehead fractures (3.12%) and patients with panfacial fractures (2.52%). Further, nasal, Le Fort I and II, zygomatic complex and mandibular condyle fractures are often associated with CSI. Fractures next to the Frankfurt horizontal plane represent 87.7% of all MFI with concomitant CSI. Patients in critical age groups with a high-energy injury are more likely to suffer both, MFI and CSI injuries. Our findings help to avoid missing the diagnosis of cervical spine injury in maxillofacial trauma patients.


Author(s):  
Sergio Mendoza-Lattes ◽  
Charles R. Clark

♦ The spine study group classification describes three families of fractures♦ Clinical examination can exclude a cervical spine injury in a non-distracted conscious patient without pain and neurological deficit♦ CT scan is the investigation of choice where fracture is suspected♦ Pure ligamentous injuries are rare♦ Priorities are immobilization and assessment, reduction of dislocations and then surgical decompression and stabilization.


2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik E. Swartz ◽  
Barry P. Boden ◽  
Ronald W. Courson ◽  
Laura C. Decoster ◽  
Mary Beth Horodyski ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To provide certified athletic trainers, team physicians, emergency responders, and other health care professionals with recommendations on how to best manage a catastrophic cervical spine injury in the athlete. Background: The relative incidence of catastrophic cervical spine injury in sports is low compared with other injuries. However, cervical spine injuries necessitate delicate and precise management, often involving the combined efforts of a variety of health care providers. The outcome of a catastrophic cervical spine injury depends on the efficiency of this management process and the timeliness of transfer to a controlled environment for diagnosis and treatment. Recommendations: Recommendations are based on current evidence pertaining to prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of cervical spine injuries in sport; emergency planning and preparation to increase management efficiency; maintaining or creating neutral alignment in the cervical spine; accessing and maintaining the airway; stabilizing and transferring the athlete with a suspected cervical spine injury; managing the athlete participating in an equipment-laden sport, such as football, hockey, or lacrosse; and considerations in the emergency department.


2005 ◽  
pp. 008-024
Author(s):  
Edvard Aleksandrovich Ramikh

During recent decades the spine specialists’ views on mechanism and nature of various injuries of the subaxial cervical spine have changed and become fuller. This predetermined the choice of pathogenetical therapy for each type of injury. In this respect the concept of treatment regimen for cervical spine injuries is presented from long-term experience of Trauma Clinics of Novosibirsk RITO and newer literature data. The problems of clinical semeiology, radiodiagnosis, lower cervical spine injury classifications are discussed. Issues of conservative and surgical treatment choice, medical rehabilitation of all types of subaxial cervical spine injuries in accordance with modern classification are considered in detail.


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