- Prehospital Trauma Life Support Spinal Trauma Management Flashcards
6 cards from real PHTLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 - Prehospital Trauma Life Support Spinal Trauma Management flashcards as text
What is the current PHTLS terminology for managing the spine of a trauma patient?
Answer: Spinal motion restriction
PHTLS has adopted the term 'spinal motion restriction' to more accurately describe the goal of limiting spinal movement rather than true immobilization.
Which clinical decision tool does PHTLS reference for determining the need for spinal motion restriction?
Answer: NEXUS criteria and Canadian C-spine Rule
PHTLS references the NEXUS criteria and Canadian C-spine Rule to help determine which patients can safely be cleared of cervical spine injury.
What is the preferred device for transporting a trauma patient requiring spinal motion restriction?
Answer: Vacuum mattress or padded scoop stretcher transferred to ambulance stretcher
PHTLS has moved away from prolonged long backboard use toward vacuum mattresses and scoop stretchers that provide better immobilization with less complication risk.
How should the cervical spine be managed during intubation of a trauma patient?
Answer: Have an assistant provide manual inline stabilization while the front of the collar is removed for mouth opening
The front of the cervical collar is removed to allow adequate mouth opening, while a second provider maintains manual inline stabilization.
What is the significance of neurogenic shock in spinal cord injury?
Answer: It results from loss of sympathetic tone below the injury causing vasodilation, bradycardia, and hypotension
Neurogenic shock results from disruption of sympathetic pathways below the spinal cord injury level.
According to PHTLS, what finding during assessment most strongly suggests a cervical spine injury?
Answer: Midline cervical tenderness with a significant mechanism of injury
Midline cervical tenderness in the context of a significant mechanism is the most reliable clinical indicator of potential cervical spine injury.
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