[Acute management of spinal injuries. The cervical spine, conservative therapy]

Stable injuries of the cervical spine can be treated with a cervical collar. Unstable injuries that do not require repositioning can be immobilized with a Minerva plaster cast. Crutchfield's extension is used for extension of short duration during repositioning before setting a cast or performing surgery and for long-term extension in cases of transverse lesions of the spinal cord. The Halo apparatus is especially suitable for treatment requiring extension of long duration when there are no symptoms of transverse lesions of the spinal cord.