CAISS Spine Injuries 5

Question 1

In pediatric patients under age 8, spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) occurs more frequently than in adults primarily because:

Accepted Answer

The pediatric spine is more elastic, allowing cord injury without bony disruption

Answer

The pediatric spine's hypermobility and elasticity allow significant cord stretch and injury without detectable fracture or dislocation on imaging.

Question 2

When coding a hangman's fracture (traumatic spondylolisthesis of C2), the AIS coder must determine severity primarily based on:

Accepted Answer

Degree of displacement and presence of neurological deficit

Answer

Fracture displacement and neurological status are the primary determinants of AIS severity for C2 traumatic spondylolisthesis.

Question 3

The AAAM AIS 2005 Spine chapter codes injuries with cord contusion and complete neurological deficit at which level?

Accepted Answer

AIS 6

Answer

Complete neurological deficit from cord injury represents maximum neurological devastation and is coded AIS 6 in the AIS 2005 spine chapter.

Question 4

A patient involved in a rear-end collision presents with neck pain, muscle spasm, and limited range of motion but no fracture on imaging. AIS coding of this soft-tissue cervical injury is most likely:

Accepted Answer

AIS 1

Answer

Soft-tissue cervical sprains/strains (whiplash-associated disorders Grade I-II) without fracture or neurological deficit are coded AIS 1 in the spine region.

Question 5

In the context of CAISS certification, 'abbreviated' in the Abbreviated Injury Scale primarily refers to:

Accepted Answer

The scale being a short proxy for comprehensive injury description

Answer

The AIS provides a brief, standardized severity rating as a proxy for detailed clinical description, enabling efficient epidemiological data collection.

(CAISS) Certified Abbreviated Injury Scale Specialist Practice Test

(CAISS) Certified Abbreviated Injury Scale Specialist Practice Test

CAISS Spine Injuries 5