Question

EMTs are dispatched for a fall. The patient, a 16-year-old female with Down syndrome, is experiencing difficulty walking and says that her fingers "feel like needles." The EMTs should suspect:

A) a seizure.
B) an intracranial hemorrhage.
C) a cervical spine injury.
D) hydrocephalus.

Answer 1

C) a cervical spine injury. The EMTs should suspect a cervical spine injury based on the symptoms and history provided.

Step-by-step explanation:

The EMTs should suspect a cervical spine injury.

The patient, a 16-year-old female with Down syndrome, is experiencing difficulty walking and says that her fingers "feel like needles." These symptoms, along with the fall, suggest a possible injury to the cervical spine. The cervical spine is responsible for supporting the head and facilitating movement of the neck and upper body. Damage to this area can lead to difficulty walking and sensory symptoms, such as the feeling of needles in the fingers.

Other options can be ruled out based on the information provided. A seizure would typically involve uncontrollable movements and altered consciousness. An intracranial hemorrhage would likely present with severe headache, nausea, and neurological deficits. Hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, would not cause difficulty walking or sensory symptoms in the fingers.