cervical spine imaging Flashcards
what is adequacy
ensure you can see occiput to T1
what is aligment
presence of correct lordotic curve
name the ligmants of the neck
ligamentum nuchae
posterior and anterior longitudinal ligaments
interspinous ligament
supraspinous ligament
what lines indicate the aligment of the cervical spine
posterior tip of spinous process
lamina junctional line
posterior vertebral bodies
anterior vertebral bodies
describe the prevertebral facia
allows gliding extends down to T3 covers floor of the posterior triangle cervical and brachial plexus 3rd part of the subclavian artery
what is the epidemiology of spinal injury
80% male
45% cervical. 25% thoracic
50% RTA 30% fall, 20% sports
what signs mean that the patient does not need a cervical spina x ray
if alert and stable, and: • <65 years old • Not serious mechanism of injury • No tingling/sensory symptoms • Was involved in rear-end shunt • Sitting up • Ambulatory since injury • Delayed onset neck pain • No cervical midline tenderness • Able to rotate head 45 degrees either way.
what are the most common mechanisms of injury
flexion
extension
compression
combination
what are odontoid peg fractures
fractures of the cervical spine
what is anterolisthesis
the upper vertebral body slips forward onto the vertebra below
what are the features of a flexion injury
severe kyphosis teardrop fragments anterolisthesis disrupted posterior vertebral body line wider interlaminar space narrow disc space above involved vertebra
Compression, burst injury
Severe compressive force that explodes the vertebra Compression of the vertebral body Disruption of the posterior body line Widening of the interpedicular distance
extension injury
•Wide disc space below involved vertebra •Triangular avulsion fracture inferiorly •Retrolisthesis •Neural arch and/or pillar fracture
radiological interpretation sequence
adequacy alignment bones cartilages and joints soft tissues- retropharyngeal space, peripheral soft tissues
