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Spine
intermediate
X-Type

Cervical Spine Clearance in Trauma

Spine Trauma

A 45-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident. He has an isolated head injury with GCS of 11 and is intubated for airway protection. He is hemodynamically stable with no focal neurological deficits in his limbs. The trauma team is requesting clearance of the cervical spine to remove the cervical collar. Regarding cervical spine clearance in trauma:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Clinical decision rules (NEXUS and Canadian C-Spine Rule) can safely identify patients who do not re...

B

CT scan has replaced plain radiography as the primary imaging modality for cervical spine trauma; it...

C

Plain radiography is the gold standard for cervical spine imaging in trauma; CT has low sensitivity ...

D

In the obtunded or unreliable patient, CT alone may miss significant ligamentous injury; MRI within ...

E

Adequate clinical examination for clearance requires: alert and oriented patient (GCS 15), no intoxi...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option