Question

using the american college of surgeons guidelines for screening patients with suspected spine injury, what assessment finding would prompt the nurse to prepare a patient for cervical spine imaging?

Answer 1

According to the American College of Surgeons guidelines for screening patients with suspected spine injury, the nurse should prepare for cervical spine imaging if there's a high-risk injury, altered consciousness, neurological deficits, midline neck tenderness, intoxication, or distracting injuries. These indicate potential cervical spine injury according to ACS guidelines.

1. Mechanism of Injury: If the patient has been involved in a high-risk mechanism of injury, such as a motor vehicle accident, fall from a significant height, or a high-impact trauma, cervical spine imaging is warranted.

2. Altered Level of Consciousness: Any alteration in the level of consciousness, including confusion, loss of consciousness, or amnesia, may suggest a potential cervical spine injury and should prompt imaging.

3. Neurological Deficits: The presence of neurological deficits, such as weakness, numbness, or tingling in the extremities, may indicate spinal cord involvement and necessitate cervical spine imaging.

4. Midline Neck Tenderness: Tenderness along the cervical spine, especially in the midline, can be a significant clinical finding suggesting the need for further investigation through imaging.

5. Intoxication: If the patient is intoxicated and unable to reliably communicate symptoms or undergo a thorough examination, cervical spine imaging may be necessary to rule out injury.

6. Distracting Injuries: In the presence of distracting injuries (e.g., fractures in other areas, severe soft tissue injuries), cervical spine imaging becomes crucial as these injuries may mask or coexist with spine injuries.

It's essential for the nurse to carefully assess and consider these factors in the context of the patient's overall condition to determine the need for cervical spine imaging and ensure timely and appropriate care.

Answer 2

Neurological deficits, sensory loss, or motor function abnormalities localized to the cervical spine from clinical assessments would prompt preparation for spine imaging such as MRI or CT scanning.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the American College of Surgeons guidelines for screening patients with suspected spine injury, clinical assessment findings that would prompt a nurse to prepare a patient for cervical spine imaging include evidence of neurological deficits, such as altered sensation or loss of motor function, and pain or tenderness localized to the cervical spine. For example, if a patient exhibits symptoms such as pins and needles in a limb, difficulty in sensation as indicated by not feeling the touch of a pen, or displays problems with motor functions during clinical tests, these could be indications of a spine injury. Imaging technology, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scanning, can be used to localize and evaluate the extent of spinal injuries.