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Previous Volume 334:514-520 February 22, 1996 Number 8 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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The goal of management of injury of the spinal cord or cauda equina is, if possible, to reduce the resultant neurologic deficit and prevent any additional loss of neurologic function. In a patient with a suspected bony injury of the spine, the spine must be immobilized to prevent neural injury, and the anatomy of the injury must be analyzed as a first step in providing effective treatment.

Resuscitation and Initial Evaluation

The specific steps in resuscitation and initial evaluation may be carried out either at the scene of the trauma or in the emergency room, depending on the urgency of the clinical situation, the . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Spinal Immobilization

Airway Management

Cardiovascular Resuscitation

Pharmacologic Treatment

Adjunctive Treatment

Other Injuries

Neurologic Evaluation

Examination of Motor Function

Examination of Sensory Function

Spinal Cord Injury Syndromes

Associated Head Injury

Imaging-Based Assessment

Plain Films

Computed Tomography

Flexion and Extension

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

CT Myelography

Imaging and Patterns of Neurologic Deficit

Stabilization and Alignment of the Spine

Penetrating Injuries

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Department of Neurosurgery, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Ave., New York, NY 10016, where reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Cooper.

References

Related Letters:

Acute Spinal Injury
Weiss D., Spill G., Gittler M., Gross T. W., Chiles B. W., Cooper P. R.
Extract | Full Text  
N Engl J Med 1996; 334:1747-1748, Jun 27, 1996. Correspondence

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