Assessing and Clearing the Cervical Spine Case 1

1. Question

A 40-year-old roofer attends the ED after falling from a garage roof he was repairing. He has a fracture of his right wrist and has been immobilised by the ambulance service from scene. He complains of midline tenderness in his upper cervical spine.

Can you clear his neck using the NEXUS Low Risk Criteria?

Yes
No

2. Question

You decide to image his neck using CT.

Are the x-rays adequate?

Click on the x-rays to enlarge.

Yes
No

3. Question

You decide to perform a swimmers view.

Are the x-rays now adequate?

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Yes
No

4. Question

Is any abnormality demonstrated?

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Yes
No

5. Question

You arrange for a CT scan of his cervical spine.

What is the abnormality showing in these images?

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