Radiology, Vol 127, 131-139, Copyright © 1978 by Radiological Society of North America
The influence of thin-section tomography on the treatment of cervical spine injuries
KR Maravilla, PR Cooper and FH Sklar
A study was performed to determine the influence of routine thin- section
tomography on subsequent treatment of the patient with acute trauma to the
cervical spine. Of 79 such patients who underwent tomography over a
14-month period, 55 had suspicious indirect findings on the radiograph and
25% of these were shown to have fractures, while 67% of the patients
without radiographic abnormalities who presented with a neurological
deficit also demonstrated fractures on tomography. Of the patients who were
shown to have fractures prior to tomography, 54% had more extensive injury
than originally suspected. In nearly 18% of patients, the mode of therapy
was changed significantly after tomographic evaluation. Indications for
tomography are discussed and specific recommendations for systematic
radiographic evaluation of cervical spine injuries are presented.
