Haven’t read the initial Assessment in Action quiz? Read: Emergency Care Quiz: Spine Injuries
Emergency Care Quiz: Spine Injuries Answer Key
By Nancy Caroline
1. Answer: C. The initial assessment should include evaluation of the airway, breathing status, circulation, and manual in-line spinal stabilization for any trauma incident. You should always maintain a high degree of suspicion for SCI when dealing with trauma.
2. Answer: D. You should focus on the mechanism of injury to determine the likelihood of spinal injury.
3. Answer: B. Falls from two to three times the height of the victim should result in a high degree of suspicion for significant trauma. Patients with significant trauma should always be transported to a trauma center because these facilities offer the greatest chance of successful treatment.
4. Answer: B. EMS providers should always strive to limit scene times in trauma incidents to the “platinum 10 minutes,” because it offers the greatest chance of survival.
5. Answer: C. Spinal injuries that demonstrate bradycardia and warm, red, dry skin with hypotension are highly suggestive of neurogenic shock.
6. Answer: A. The treatment plan en route should include constant reassessment, including obtaining GCS scores and administering IV therapy to help stabilize the blood pressure and increase perfusion.
7. Answer: C. Loss of sensation below the navel suggests disruption at the level of T10.
| Challenging Questions 8. The potential for fire requires that the patient be removed immediately, but the mechanism of injury suggests spinal injury. One provider should establish manual in-line cervical stabilization and apply a rigid cervical collar, while other rescuers effect rapid extrication by long backboard. The backboard is placed in the doorway, and the patient is rotated and laid on the board. Cervical stabilization is maintained, and the patient is secured and moved to safety. |
