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Paper| Volume 23, ISSUE 5, P317-319, 1992

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Clinical predictors of unstable cervical spinal injury in multiply injured patients

  • S.E. Ross
    Correspondence
    Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Steven E. Ross md facs, 3 Cooper Plaza, Suite 411, Camden, NJ 08103, USA.
    Affiliations
    Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, New Jersey, USA
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  • K.F. O'Malley
    Affiliations
    Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, New Jersey, USA
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  • W.G. DeLong
    Affiliations
    Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, New Jersey, USA
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  • C.T. Born
    Affiliations
    Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, New Jersey, USA
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  • C.W. Schwab
    Affiliations
    Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylavania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-1383(92)90178-U
Clinical predictors of unstable cervical spinal injury in multiply injured patients
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      Abstract

      All victims of major blunt trauma have been said to be at risk of cervical spinal injury. In a prospective study of 410 such patients at our institution, we idenitfied 13 patients (6.12 per cent) with unstable cervical spines. Loss or defect of consciousness following injury (regardless of duration), neurological deficit consistent with cervical cord or nerve root injury and neck tenderness were significantly predictive of an unstable cervical spine. Immediate radiographic investigation of the cervical spine is mandatory in such patients, but may not be required in patients without these signs.
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      Article info

      Publication history

      Accepted: November 4, 1991

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-1383(92)90178-U

      Copyright

      © 1992 Published by Elsevier Inc.

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