[Radiodiagnosis of cervical spine lesions]

The radiation examination of 728 victims of acute spinal column and cord injuries, admitted to Omsk City Emergency Medicine Hospital One in the period 2008-2011, was analyzed. The main cause of spinal column injuries was catastrophe (68.7%), vehicle-related trauma (22.3%), and others (9%). Injuries to the cervical segments of the spinal cord constituted 10.5%. The 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae were most commonly damaged. Spinal cord injuries were multifocal in about 46.2% of cases. The diagnostic algorithm of instrumental studies in the acute period of spinal injury was performed in the following sequence: spondylograms in two projections (77%), those in special positions (3%), multislice spiral computed tomography (75%), and magnetic resonance imaging (22%). Multislice spiral computed tomography was used as a primary diagnostic method for vertebral column fractures in patients with multisystem trauma and highly probable spine injury without previous radiography.