TY - JOUR
T1 - The incidence of injury to the cervical spine in patients with craniocerebral injury
AU - O’Malley, Keith F.
AU - Ross, Steven E.
PY - 1988/10
Y1 - 1988/10
N2 - Estimates of the incidence of injury to the cervical spine among patients suffering blunt trauma to the head vary widely, and have been reported to be as high as 20%. Since strict observation of cervical spine precautions may delay attempts to gain control of the airway in a patient with an intracranial injury, the risk involved needs more exact definition. In an attempt to quantify this risk, the records of 1,272 consecutive patients with blunt injuries admitted to a Level I regional trauma center were reviewed. Patients with serious craniocerebral injury were at no greater risk for injury to the cervical spine than patients without trauma to the head (1.8% vs. 3.5%, p = NS by Chi-square analysis). Although observance of cervical spine precautions is usually paramount, there may be times when this concern is superceded by the need to gain definitive airway control in a patient with injury to the brain.
AB - Estimates of the incidence of injury to the cervical spine among patients suffering blunt trauma to the head vary widely, and have been reported to be as high as 20%. Since strict observation of cervical spine precautions may delay attempts to gain control of the airway in a patient with an intracranial injury, the risk involved needs more exact definition. In an attempt to quantify this risk, the records of 1,272 consecutive patients with blunt injuries admitted to a Level I regional trauma center were reviewed. Patients with serious craniocerebral injury were at no greater risk for injury to the cervical spine than patients without trauma to the head (1.8% vs. 3.5%, p = NS by Chi-square analysis). Although observance of cervical spine precautions is usually paramount, there may be times when this concern is superceded by the need to gain definitive airway control in a patient with injury to the brain.
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U2 - 10.1097/00005373-198810000-00013
DO - 10.1097/00005373-198810000-00013
M3 - Article
C2 - 3172308
AN - SCOPUS:0023781464
SN - 0022-5282
VL - 28
SP - 1476
EP - 1478
JO - Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care
JF - Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care
IS - 10
ER -