Abstract

MARTINEZ, Fernando et al. Which patients with a potential trauma of the cervical spine and spinal cord should undergo imaging studies?: Evidence-Based Guideline. Arch. Med Int [online]. 2014, vol.36, n. 2, pp.89-95. ISSN 0250-3816.

In the management of acute politraumatized patients, it is stated that any individual who has suffered a trauma above the clavicules should be considered as potentially affected by a cervical spine injury. However, it results that less than 3% of those patients have a real risk of cervical spine injury. In the acute phase, those patients have to undergo cervical spine immobilization before deciding what patients need imaging studies and which studies should be requested. Since over 95% of imaging studies performed on patients with a potential cervical spine injury show normal results, it seems logical to try to rationalize their use, although always keeping in mind the patient’s safety.  Based upon an extensive literature review, the authors propose an algorithm for the clinical and paraclinical management of patients who potentially could have suffered a cervical spine injury.

Keywords : Cervical spine injury; Screening; Multiple trauma.