Cervical Spine Fracture Evaluation Questions & Answers

Updated: Nov 01, 2022
  • Author: Moira Davenport, MD; Chief Editor: Trevor John Mills, MD, MPH  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is the prevalence of cervical spine fracture in unconscious patients in the ED?

How are cervical spine injuries classified?

What is the anatomy of spine relevant to cervical spine fracture?

What is included in the initial evaluation of a cervical spine injury?

When is radiographic evaluation indicated in the workup of cervical spine fracture?

What is included in the standard trauma radiography series for cervical spine fracture?

What is the role of CT scanning in the workup of cervical spine fracture?

What are the types of flexion cervical spine?

What is a simple wedge fracture of the cervical spine?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of simple wedge fracture of the cervical spine?

What is a flexion teardrop fracture of the cervical spine?

What is an anterior subluxation of the cervical spine?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of anterior subluxation of the cervical spine?

What is the prevalence of neurologic deficits due to anterior subluxation of the cervical spine?

What is a bilateral facet dislocation of the cervical spine?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of bilateral facet dislocation of the cervical spine?

What is the prevalence of spinal cord injury in a bilateral facet dislocation of the cervical spine?

What is clay shoveler fracture of the cervical spine?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of clay shoveler fracture of the cervical spine?

How are clay shoveler fractures of the cervical spine treated?

What are the types of cervical spine injuries caused by an extension mechanism?

What is a hangman fracture of the cervical spine?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of a hangman fracture of the cervical spine?

How is a hangman fracture of the cervical spine treated?

What is extension teardrop fracture of the cervical spine?

What is a cervical spine fracture of the posterior arch of C1 (posterior neural arch fracture)?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of a cervical spine fracture of the posterior arch of C1 (posterior neural arch fracture)?

How is a cervical spine fracture of the posterior arch of C1 (posterior neural arch fracture) treated?

What are upper cervical spine injuries?

What are the types of atlas fractures of the cervical spine?

What is atlantoaxial subluxation of the cervical spine?

What is atlanto-occipital dislocation of the cervical spine?

What are the types of odontoid process fractures of the cervical spine?

How are odontoid process fractures of the cervical spine treated?

What is occipital condyle fracture of the cervical spine?

How does mechanical instability affect a cervical spine injury?

How are cervical spine injuries ranked by degree of mechanical instability?

What is the prevalence of cervical spine fractures?

What are the types of flexion-rotation mechanism of the cervical spine?

What is a unilateral facet dislocation of the cervical spine?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of unilateral facet dislocation of the cervical spine?

How are unilateral facet dislocations of the cervical spine treated?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of rotary atlantoaxial dislocation of the cervical spine?

What are common injuries associated with vertical compression injury of the cervical spine?

What is a Jefferson fracture of the cervical spine?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of a Jefferson fracture of the cervical spine?

What is a cervical spine burst fracture of the vertebral body?

Which radiographic findings are characteristic of a cervical spine burst fracture of the vertebral body?

How is a cervical spine burst fracture of the vertebral body treated?

Which cervical spine injuries are caused by multiple or complex mechanisms?

Presentation

What are the signs and symptoms of cervical spine fracture?

What causes cervical spine fractures?

What is spinal shock syndrome?

What are the signs and symptoms of neurogenic shock from a cervical spine fracture?

What are complete and incomplete cord syndromes?

What is anterior spinal cord syndrome?

What is central spinal cord syndrome?

What is Brown-Sequard syndrome?

What are high cervical spinal cord syndromes?

What is Horner syndrome?

What is posteroinferior cerebellar artery syndrome?

What is the association of craniofacial injuries with cervical spine fracture?

What is the efficacy of a physical evaluation in the diagnosis of cervical spine injury?

Which physical findings are characteristic of cervical spine injury?

DDX

What are the differential diagnoses for Cervical Spine Fracture Evaluation?

Workup

What is the role of radiography in cervical spine fracture?

What are the roles of the Canadian C-Spine Rules (CCR) and the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Group (NEXUS) criteria in the radiologic workup of cervical spine fracture?

What is the efficacy of the Canadian C-Spine Rules (CCR) and the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Group (NEXUS) criteria for cervical spine fracture?

What is the role of a cross-table lateral view in the radiographic workup of cervical spine fracture?

What is the role of a swimmer's view in the radiologic workup of cervical spine fracture?

What is the role of an oblique view in the radiologic workup of cervical spine fracture?

What is the role of an odontoid view in the radiologic workup of cervical spine fracture?

What is the role of an anteroposterior view in the radiologic workup of cervical spine fracture?

What is the role of CT scanning in the workup of cervical spine fracture evaluation?

What is the role of MDCT and MRI in the workup of cervical spine fracture evaluation?

Guidelines

What are the Canadian C-Spine Rules (CCR) for cervical spine fracture?

What are the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Group (NEXUS) criteria for cervical spine fracture?

What are the ACOS recommendations for imaging cervical spine fracture?

How does the American Spinal Injury Association define cervical spine injury?

Medications

What is the role of medications in cervical spine fracture treatment?

Which medications in the drug class Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of Cervical Spine Fracture Evaluation?