Increased risk of death with cervical spine immobilisation in penetrating cervical trauma

Wesley B Vanderlan; Beverly E Tew; Norman E McSwain Jr

doi:10.1016/j.injury.2009.01.011

Increased risk of death with cervical spine immobilisation in penetrating cervical trauma

Injury. 2009 Aug;40(8):880-3. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2009.01.011. Epub 2009 Jun 12.

Authors

Wesley B Vanderlan¹, Beverly E Tew, Norman E McSwain Jr

Affiliation

¹ Department of Surgery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA. wvonried@umich.edu

PMID: 19524236
DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2009.01.011

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if cervical spine immobilisation was related to patient mortality in penetrating cervical trauma. One hundred and ninety-nine patient charts from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (Charity Hospital, New Orleans) were examined. Charts were identified by searching the Charity Hospital Trauma Registry from 01/01/1994 to 04/17/2003 for all cases of penetrating cervical trauma. Thirty-five patient deaths were identified. Cervical spine immobilisation was associated with an increased risk of death (p<0.02, odds ratio 2.77, 95% CI 1.18-6.49).

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Cervical Vertebrae / injuries*
Female
Humans
Immobilization / adverse effects*
Male
Middle Aged
New Orleans
Odds Ratio
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Spinal Fractures / mortality*
Wounds, Gunshot / mortality*
Young Adult