Acute Cervical Spine Trauma: Imaging Assessment and Management

The intent of this article is to provide a comprehensive, educational overview of cervical spinal trauma, bringing together the mechanism of injury, imaging assessment, common injury patterns and classification systems, and acute management. Accompanying illustrations will act as powerful tools for comprehension. These concepts will be underpinned by frequent reference to neuroradiology and a grounding of cervical spinal anatomy. Although primarily aimed at the reporting radiologist, this article will serve as an important scholastic adjunct to other clinical specialties, including emergency physicians, trauma and orthopedic surgeons, and neurosurgeons.

Learning Objective: To understand cervical spinal anatomy, describe the common mechanisms and patterns of cervical spinal injury, and identify injuries for which further imaging assessment is recommended