Plain film or MDCT as a first diagnostic tool in patients with cervical spine injury: Critical issues

Abstract

Spinal trauma is a very frequent injury that differs in severity and prognosis, varying from an asymptomatic condition to temporary neurological dysfunction, a focal deficit, or even a fatal event. Cervical spine injuries are estimated to occur in 2–10% of such cases, with more than 10,000 new cases each year. The major causes of spinal trauma are high- and low-energy falls, traffic accidents, sport-related, and blunt impact. In all such cases, the associated costs of these injuries are high [1]. Clinical evaluation involves different specialties, including emergency medicine, trauma surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and radiology or neuroradiology [2].