Is the lateral cervical spine x-ray obsolete during the initial evaluation of patients with acute trauma?

Surgical Neurology
Andrea Fisher, William F Young

Abstract

Clearing the cervical spine is a vital part of the treatment of trauma patients, and the failure to accurately diagnose an injury to the cervical spine can result in paralysis and even death. For decades, plain film imaging, primarily LCSX, was the standard imaging method used to initially evaluate the cervical spine, with CSCT used as an adjunct. With advancements in CSCT over the past decade, it is generally accepted that CSCT should be used as the screening method for clearance of the cervical spine in patients with trauma. In this study our goal was to determine whether lateral cervical spine radiographs (LCSX) are warranted in the initial evaluation of trauma patients or whether they should be eliminated completely in favor of CSCT scans as the initial method of evaluating the cervical spine in trauma patients. This is a retrospective study using a prospectively maintained computerized database of all trauma admissions to a level II American College of Surgeons verified trauma center. Patients who were identified to have both LCSX and CSCT on admission were analyzed. Radiology readings (LCSX and CSCT) of the selected patients were reviewed and comparisons were made to determine the number of patients for which the LCSX was...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1993·The Journal of Trauma·J H Woodring, C Lee
Nov 1, 1996·Radiographics : a Review Publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc·D B NuñezJ L Becerra
Oct 8, 1998·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·D B Nuñez, R M Quencer
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Aug 23, 2001·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·R H Daffner

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Citations

Jun 1, 2013·European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery : Official Publication of the European Trauma Society·J-P ShiauC-C Liao
Jul 16, 2010·Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR·Mark J Adams, Jamie Lynn Adams
Jun 20, 2009·Seminars in Ultrasound, CT, and MR·Aldo Gonzalez-Beicos, Diego B Nunez
Sep 1, 2009·Sports Health·Eric A Bogner
Dec 28, 2019·Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care·Parvin Kashani, Amin Saberinia

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