A 27-year-old man is involved in a low-speed rear-end motor vehicle collision. He is alert, has no midline cervical tenderness, no focal neurological ...

Question

A 27-year-old man is involved in a low-speed rear-end motor vehicle collision. He is alert, has no midline cervical tenderness, no focal neurological deficit, no intoxication, no painful distracting injuries and can actively rotate his neck 45 degrees left and right. According to the Canadian C-spine Rule, what is the appropriate management of his cervical spine?

Accepted Answer

Clinically clear the cervical spine without imaging

Answer

Obtain cervical spine CT scan

Answer

Obtain cervical spine radiographs

Answer

Maintain cervical collar for 24 hours then reassess

Answer

Order MRI of the cervical spine

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Cervical spine clearance after trauma