@article{js2013112,
author={{DeMuro, Jonas P. and Simmons, Sue and Smith, Kaitlin and Jax, Judy},
title={Utility of MRI in Blunt Trauma Patients with a Normal Cervical Spine CT and Persistent Midline Neck Pain on Palpation},
journal={Global Journal of Surgery},
volume={1},
number={1},
pages={4--7},
year={2013},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/js/1/1/2},
abstract={<i>Introduction:</i> The blunt trauma patient with a normal neurologic exam, and persistent midline cervical spine tenderness remains a diagnostic challenge. The patient with a symptomatic neck can be subsequently treated with flexion-extension cervical spine X-rays, MRI of the cervical spine, or no further imaging. Methods: This is a single center, retrospective study that spanned five years. Our current protocol for cervical spine clearance is described, which utilizes neck MRI for the trauma patients with persistent midline neck tenderness, a normal neurologic exam, and a normal CT of the neck. These symptomatic neck patients were identified from the institution's radiology database of patients that had both a CT and an MRI. Results: There were 6237 patients identified during the time of the study, and 81 were found to have both a CT and an MRI of the cervical spine for a symptomatic neck without a neurological deficit. There were 4 patients identified that had a normal CT, and subsequently had a new finding on the MRI scan; all were discharged with their cervical collar on with Spine Specialist followup. Conclusion: In 4.94% of our patients, the MRI had significant findings that changed the management of the patient. We will continue to perform cervical MRI in our symptomatic neck patients after blunt trauma with a normal cervical spine CT.},
doi={10.12691/js-1-1-2}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}