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Evaluation of Cervical Spine Injuries

  • Trauma to the Neck (W Biffl, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Trauma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Critically evaluate the current evidence in evaluation of the cervical spine following trauma.

Recent Findings

Little has changed in the evaluation of the cervical spine following penetrating trauma. Significant advances have been made in the evaluation following blunt trauma. Recent research has focused on evaluating the accuracy of recent generation-computed tomographic (CT) scanners in excluding (or identifying) significant cervical spine injury. Secondly, recent literature has evaluated the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of the cervical spine injury following blunt trauma.

Summary

Current evidence supports (1) in an adult patient if a high-quality CT scan, interpreted by a trained neuro-radiologist, does not demonstrate any abnormal findings, significant cervical spine injury can be excluded and the collar safely removed; (2) MRI adds little to the evaluation if the CT scan is negative; and (3) MRI scan is helpful if a CT is equivocal or to plan therapy when the CT demonstrates injury.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, Box 208042, Tompkins East 2, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06520-8042, USA

    Ajay Malhotra

  2. Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Larner College of Medicine, Level I Trauma Center, UVM Medical Center, 111 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, VT, 05401, USA

    Ajai K. Malhotra

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Malhotra, A., Malhotra, A.K. Evaluation of Cervical Spine Injuries. Curr Trauma Rep 5, 48–53 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40719-019-0163-5

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