The Cervical Spine

Question 1

What do stable and unstable injuries present as at the cervical spine?

Answer 1

Stable = intact posterior spinal ligament

Unstable = displacement (fracture/dislocation)

Question 2

Radiographs are the initial imaging study for all cervical spine patients except _______. What imaging is used for these patients?

Answer 2

High Risk trauma patients

Evaluated by CT scan

Question 3

List 2 types of CT images that can evaluate for multi system trauma.

Answer 3

Head CT for the brain

Thoracic-abdomen-pelvis (TAP)

Question 4

List 2 clinical decision rules for the cervical spine.

Answer 4

National Emergency Utilization X-ray Study (NEXUS)

Canadian C-Spine Rule (CCR)

Question 5

What 2 presentations have been researched in the ACR for the cervical spine?

Answer 5

Suspected spine trauma

Myelopathy

Question 6

What 3 pathologies have diagnostic imaging pathways been developed for at the cervical spine?

Answer 6

Non traumatic neck pain

Adult Head Injury

Possible Cervical Spine Injury

Question 7

What are the 2 purposes of a clinical decision rule?

Answer 7

1. To determine if patient has potential for significant cervical injury
2. To determine whether radiographic imaging in necessary

Question 8

What the purpose of ACR Appropriateness Criteria?

Answer 8

Assist clinicians in choosing which imaging to order

Question 9

Diagnostic Imaging Pathways are ________ tools.

Answer 9

Decision support tools

Question 10

List the 5 X-ray views for the c-spine.

Answer 10

AP upper 
AP lower 
Lateral
Oblique 
Stress View

Question 11

List the 3 MRI/CT scan views for the c-spine.

Answer 11

Coronal
Axial
Sagittal