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A significant cervical spine fracture: think of the airway
Paula Cleiman1, Joe Nemeth, Phyllis Vetere
1Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Background:
Airway compromise is a potential complication of significant cervical spine injury.
Objectives:
To alert emergency physicians to be aware of possible airway collapse after serious cervical spine injury.
Case Report:
We report a case of an 87-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with an unstable cervical spine fracture after a fall. He subsequently developed complete upper airway obstruction from prevertebral soft tissue swelling, requiring a cricothyrotomy after a failed intubation attempt.
Conclusion:
Patients with significant blunt cervical spine trauma can be at high risk for upper airway compromise.
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