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Is cervical spine imaging indicated in gunshot wounds to the cranium?
C L Chong1, D N Ware, J H Harris
1Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Background, Materials And Methods:
Because there is no consensus regarding the necessity of imaging the cervical spine of patients who sustain a gunshot wound to the cranium, the cervical spinal radiographs of 53 consecutive patients with gunshot wounds to the cranium admitted to Hermann Hospital, a Level I trauma center, from January of 1993 to January of 1996, were reviewed.
Results:
The cervical spine radiographs of all 53 patients were negative.
Conclusions:
Cervical spine injury is not associated with gunshot wound to the cranium. Therefore, patient management decisions/procedures, including endotracheal intubation, should not be delayed pending cervical spine imaging.