Christine Bowles, an ED and trauma specialist, hosts a discussion on the controversial topic of clearing the C-Spine.
The discussion involves Donovan Dwyer (Emergency Physician), Andrew Cheng (Intensivist) and Anthony Morgan (Trauma Fellow) and takes us from the front door of the emergency department to several days down the track in the ICU.
The Emcrit podcasts (Part 1, Part 2 and a Wee) on this topic are superb but this chat opens up a whole new can of worms…
This image (courtesy of Scott Weingart’s superb Crashing Patient page on Spinal Trauma) illustrates the three column (anterior, middle and posterior) theory of Denis referred to in the podcast.
The original NEXUS paper is here
The original Canadian C-Spine rules paper is here
The paper Donovan Dwyer refers to on CT’s replacing three-view radiographs as the initial screening test in patients at high, moderate, and low risk for blunt cervical spine injury is here
