2024 ATLS Module 7 - Spine and Spinal Cord Trauma Latest Questions With Complete Grade A Answers

2024 ATLS Module 7 - Spine and Spinal Cord Trauma Latest Questions With Complete Grade A Answers 1. what do you have to consider in up to 10% of pts with a cervical spine fx? Answer: asecond, noncontiguous vertebral column fx *therefore radiographic screening of entire spine is warranted in pts with c spine fx 2. when can you safely defer evaluation of spinal injury? Answer: if pts spine is protect-ed, evaluation of spine and exclusion of spinal injury can be safely deferred... esp inpresence of systemic instability such as hypotension and respiratory inadequacy 3. how can you exclude spinal injury in patients without neurological deficit,pain or tenderness along the spine, evidence of intoxication, or additional painful injuries? Answer: absence of pain or tenderness along spine virtually excludes presence of significant spinal injury 4. why should long backboards be only used during pt transportation, and every effortshould be made to remove ptfrom spine boards ASAP? Answer: prolongedpositioning on a hard backboard with hard cervical collar can also be hazardous.... via discomfort in conscious pts, serious decubitus ulcers, respiratory compromise 5. what does the spinal column consist of? Answer: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbarvertebrae + sacrum and coccyx 6. why do ~1/3 of pts with upper cervical injuries (above C3) die? Answer: from apneacaused by loss of central innervation of phrenic nerves 7. how is a child's cervicalspine markedly different from that of an adults until ~8-12 years old? Answer: more flexible joint capsules & interspinous ligaments, flat facetjoints, and vertebral bodies are wedged anteriorly and tend to slide forward with flexion 8. most thoracic spine fxs are wedge compression fxs, not associated with spinal cord injury... however, what happens when a fracture dislocation doesoccur? Answer: almost always results in complete spinal cord injury bc of the relatively narrow thoracic canal 9. spinal cord originates at the caudal end of medulla oblongata at fora- men magnum... where does it usually end? Answer: near L1 bony level... aka conusmedullaris... below this is the cauda equina