Is the cervical spine clear? Undetected cervical fractures diagnosed only at autopsy.

Sweeney, J F; Rosemurgy, A S; Gill, S; Albrink, M H · Ann Emerg Med · 1992

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Undetected cervical-spine injuries are a nemesis to both trauma surgeons and emergency physicians. Radiographic protocols have been developed to avoid missing cervical-spine fractures but are not fail-safe. Three case reports of occult cervical fractures documented at autopsy in the face of normal cervical-spine radiographs and computerized tomography scans are presented.

Medical subject headings