ABSTRACT
Suspicion of Cervical Spine Injury Cervical spine immobilisation is vital in patients with suspected cervical spine injuries and involves applying a single-piece, rigid cervical collar with three-point fi xation to the patient’s neck. Cervical spine immobilisation should be left in place until signifi cant trauma to the spine can be excluded clinically (with a neurological examination) or radiologically (AP, lateral, odontoid views)
Indications for cervical spine immobilisation Unresponsive/unconscious patient • History of multiple trauma (polytrauma) • History of neck trauma (or mechanism) • Unexplained neck pain or tenderness to C-spine • Poor range of movements • Neurological defi cit (pain, paraesthesia) •
‘Mr Hamond is alert, conscious and replying to my questions. He states that he was involved in a motorcycle accident and collided with a moving vehicle. I am not immediately concerned about his airway at this moment in time but want to immobilise his neck with a rigid collar.’
