Articles: spinal-injuries-diagnostic-imaging.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Aug 2021
ReviewNeck Trauma: Cervical Spine, Seatbelt Sign, and Penetrating Palate Injuries.
Pediatric cervical spine, blunt cerebrovascular, and penetrating palate injuries are rare but potentially life-threatening injuries that demand immediate stabilization and treatment. Balancing the risk of a missed injury with radiation exposure and the need for sedation is critical in evaluating children for these injuries. ⋯ Careful risk stratification based on history, mechanism and examination is imperative to evaluate these injuries judiciously in the pediatric population. This article presents a review of the most up-to-date literature on pediatric neck trauma.
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Radiological evaluation of traumatic thoracolumbar fractures is used to classify the injury and determine the optimal treatment plan. Currently, there remains a lack of consensus regarding appropriate radiological protocol. Most clinicians use a combination of plain radiographs, 3-dimensional computed tomography with reconstructions, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ⋯ Due to a paucity of published studies, there is insufficient evidence that radiographic findings can be used as predictors of clinical outcomes in thoracolumbar fractures. Strength of Recommendation: Grade Insufficient The full version of the guideline can be reviewed at: https://www.cns.org/guideline-chapters/congress-neurological-surgeons-systematic-review-evidence-based-guidelines/chapter_3.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Aug 2018
ReviewCurrent Challenges in the Use of Computed Tomography and MR Imaging in Suspected Cervical Spine Trauma.
There is controversy regarding the optimal imaging strategy in adult blunt trauma patients for suspected cervical spine trauma. Some investigators recommend negative computed tomography (CT) alone to clear the cervical spine in adult blunt trauma patients, while others insist that MR imaging is necessary, especially among obtunded adult blunt trauma patients. CT is an excellent imaging modality for bony cervical spine injury; however, there is a nonzero rate of clinically significant cervical spine injuries missed on CT. MR imaging has high sensitivity for soft tissue cervical spine injuries, but low specificity for the rare isolated unstable ligamentous cervical spine injury.
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Appropriate use of imaging for adult patients with cervical spine (C-spine) injuries in the emergency department (ED) is a longstanding issue. Guidance for C-spine ordering exists; however, the effectiveness of the decision support implementation in the ED is not well studied. This systematic review examines the implementation and effectiveness of evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing C-spine imaging in adults presenting to the ED with neck trauma. ⋯ There is moderate evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions to reduce C-spine image ordering in adult patients seen in the ED with neck trauma. Given the national and international focus on improving appropriateness and reducing unnecessary C-spine imaging through campaigns such as Choosing Wisely, additional interventional research in this field is warranted.
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Abusive head trauma (AHT) is one of the most common subtypes of nonaccidental trauma and is a leading cause of traumatic brain injury in young children. Imaging plays a crucial role in the evaluation of children with suspected AHT and can aid in accurate diagnosis because clinical presentation may be nonspecific. In this article, the CNS injuries that are characteristic of AHT are reviewed with an emphasis on pathophysiology and imaging appearance. ⋯ AHT is a frequent cause of neurologic injury in children, particularly in infants in the first year of life. Imaging evaluation plays a vital role in determining the diagnosis and prognosis. A review of the intracranial injuries that are common in AHT cases has been provided. Understanding the common patterns of abusive head injury can help increase diagnostic accuracy both by increasing recognition of injuries with a high specificity for AHT and by avoiding unwarranted concern in patients with concordant injury patterns and clinical history.