Cervical spine trauma

Cervical spine injuries are a persistant problem in trauma, from detection to initial management and then definitive treatment. This is compounded by the unique anatomy of the upper cervical spine which thus responds in a different way to trauma. This article examines the anatomy, initial management, including how to clear the spine, and then discusses each level of the spine with regards to mechanism of injury, classification and treatment. Key words: cervical; fracture; spine; traum