ABSTRACT
I INTRODUCTION Most spine fracture patients can be treated in a timely fashion, at the surgeon’s discretion, with a reliably satisfactory outcome. This chapter discusses treatment of the most severely injured segment (10%) of spine trauma patients-those patients whose lives depend on rapid resuscitation, mobilization, and prevention of pulmonary and thromboembolic complications. These patients can deteriorate very rapidly after admission, and may not be suitable for delayed surgery for weeks thereafter, if ever. While urgent surgery is not necessary or efficacious in every severe spinal fracture, there are no compelling reasons to withhold surgery on these patients when other conditions press for urgent treatment.
