Cervical Spine Injury IntroductionFlow chartImmobilisationRadiologyClearing c-spineProven c-spine injury or c-spine cannot be clearedOngoing carePressure area careSee also:Radiology guideline- Acute indicationsIntroduction Traumatic injuries of the cervical s pine are uncommon in children. However in many circumstances it is prudent to assume there is a cervical spine injury until examination and x- rays prove otherwise. It is often challenging to assess and immobilise children when a cervical spin e injury is suspected. Constant reassurance is required to help keep the child still and reduce their anxiety levels. Depending on the age of the child and their level of anxiet y, cooperation may be reduced. If the child is uncooperative and a th orough examination is not possible, the collar must stay on and further assessment completed when cooperation has been established. This document provides a framework for the management of a child with a possible cervical spine injury at the R.C.H. Flow Chart Click to see flow chart Immobilisation
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Patients with suspected or possible cervical spine injury must have their cervical spine
properly immobilised until formal assessment occurs.
Who to immobilise:
The unconscious patient with a history of possible trauma must be immobilised.Theconscious patient with any of the following:
A mechanism of injury that may indicate risk of spinal injury: o
Pedestrian / cyclist hit > 30km/hr.
o
Passenger - collision > 60km/hr.
o
Fall - more than 3 meters.
o Kicked / fall from a horse.
o
Backed over by a car.
o Thrown from vehicle.
o
Thrown over handlebars of bike.
o
Severe electric shock.
Multiple trauma
Significant injury above clavicles
Trauma & Unexplained hypotension
History of neck trauma
Neck tenderness
Limitations of neck movement due to pain
Neurological deficit
Other major injuries (e.g. fractured limbs, abdominal injury)
How to immobilise the cervical spine:
Fit a once-piece hard collar (see sizing below)
Children <3yo are especially difficult. Rigid cervical collars do not usually fit. They
should be immobilised with parents or staff holding the head and body, or sandbags or
towels in situ and, if cooperative, the head taped to the board.
If uncooperative, avoid rigidly fixing head to trolley or spinal board unless body also
strapped to board as more damage can be done by a child who is thrashing their body
around while their head is strapped to the board.
If the patient's head is attached to the bed, be particularly aware of vomiting and risk
of aspiration - someone must be with the patient at all times.
In the acute phase there is no place for sedation without intubation to aid cervicalspine immobilisation. However analgesia is an important consideration in trauma
patients.
Sizing a One piece Hard collar ("Stiffneck" collar is used at the RCH):
A one piece hard collar is used in the initial stage (image 3)
Measure the distance from the top of the patient's shoulder to the angle of the jaw
with your hand (image 1)
On the "Stiffneck" collar, measure from the bottom of the rigid plastic to the
"measuring post". This should correspond to the above measurement (image 2)
Can aid spinal immobilisation in early assessment phase of major trauma but should
be removed as soon as possible. Patients should not leave the emergency department
whilst still on a spinal board.
For patients < 8yo lying on a spinal board, the large occiput causes neck flexion.These patients should have extra padding under the body but not head (eg. folded
blanket) to keep neck in neutral position.
Spinal boards cause significant patient discomfort and can result in pressure ulcers.
Once a decision is made to immobilise the patient the hard collar should remain on or until
cervical spine is cleared. (see - Clearing the c-spine of injury).
Radiology
Who to x-ray:
X-ray
o Patient has altered conscious state or
o
Adequate assessment of neck symptoms not possible due to distracting injury
or intoxication/sedation or
o
Neck tenderness or pain or
o
Abnormal neurological signs
Do not x-ray o
Patient is alert and has normal conscious state and
o No distracting injury, intoxication or sedation etc. and No neck pain or
tenderness and
o Normal neurological examination
How to x-ray
A doctor or nurse from Emergency or Intensive Care MUST accompany the patient to
radiology for imaging to ensure maintenance of cervical spine immobilisation and
airway management.
The patient must be transferred onto the XR table using a patient-slide keeping thespine in-line and with the head being held.
The x-rays are taken on the XR table without lifting or moving the patient's head.
The patient is transferred off the table with the same precautions used to move them
on.
The hard collar should remain in place during the cervical spine xray series.
What to x-ray
a. Lateral c-spine (portable) will be taken in ED/ICU for:
o
All major trauma patients (along with trauma series - Pelvis on needs only basis)
Refer patients with isolated bony injury to Orthopaedics
Refer patients with any neurological deficit to Neurosurgery.
Admit all major trauma patients under general surgery.
Imaging of the spine should include plain films plus CT of the affected area, with
MRI for imaging of the spinal cord.
Ongoing Care
Guidelines for timing of fitting long term hard (Aspen) collars:
(a) For patients being discharged:
If imaging is normal and there is ongoing tenderness of the posterior c-spine but the
patient is well enough to be discharged, a two piece Aspen (or Philadelphia) collar
should be applied.
The patient should be brought back to Fracture clinic within 2 weeks for review
(discuss with orthopaedic registrar).
(b) For admitted patients:
By 6 hours, a c-spine injury decision should be made & ideally the one-piece hard
collar is changed to a two piece Aspen (or Philadelphia) collar within 6 hrs if the c-
spine cannot be cleared. The patient must not go any longer than 12 hours in a one-
piece hard collar. If at 12 hours the decision has still not been finalised a two-piececollar must be fitted regardless; Contact Orthotics department (x5870).
Pressure area care (PAC)
Children <3 years old - greatest area for pressure ulcer is the occiput.
Children >/=3 years old - greatest area for pressure ulcer is sacrum & heels.
Children must be removed from spinal board as soon as possible.
Pressure area care must be considered throughout the resuscitation phase.
Every 2 hours (pressure must be relieved from all bony prominence at least every 2hours):
Collar must be removed: 2 people, one holding head in alignment the other
removing the collar, cleaning under collar area observing for areas of redness or
breakdown. Clean the collar.
Log roll: Depending on size of patient: 2-4 people to log roll (supporting head,
shoulder and torso, hips and legs)
o
Log rolling must be done with the one or two piece hard collar on. Observing
in particular heels, hips, and occiput for pressure areas.
Feet and legs: Passive range of motion and PAC with particular attention to heels.
Orthotics may be required to keep feet in alignment.