Utility of the cervical spine radiograph in pediatric trauma.
Publication/Presentation Date
12-1-1989
Abstract
To determine the utility of the routine cervical spine radiograph, we reviewed all cervical spine radiographs obtained in pediatric trauma patients over a 2 1/2-year period at the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. Records of patients admitted with a documented cervical spine injury over a 20-year period were also reviewed. One hundred eighty-seven children had at least one cervical spine radiograph. Forty-six patients (25 percent) required at least one repeat study in an attempt to see all 7 vertebrae. Thirty-eight children (20 percent) had a second radiograph and 8 patients had a third study, all of which showed no injury. There was only one fracture seen during the 2 1/2-year time period. Of the 16 children admitted over the 20-year period, only 3 sustained an injury below the fourth cervical vertebra (C4), and all were over 8 years of age. All patients with cervical spine injury were either comatose or had symptoms referable to the neck. We conclude that the routine cervical spine radiograph in pediatric trauma is a very low-yield test.
Volume
158
Issue
6
First Page
540
Last Page
541
ISSN
0002-9610
Published In/Presented At
Lally, K. P., Senac, M., Hardin, W. D., Jr, Haftel, A., Kaehler, M., & Mahour, G. H. (1989). Utility of the cervical spine radiograph in pediatric trauma. American journal of surgery, 158(6), 540–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9610(89)90187-6
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
2589585
Department(s)
Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article