Spinal--Neck injury

Considerations:
When someone has a spinal injury, additional movement may cause further damage to the spine. The purpose of first aid is to prevent further harm to the victim until you can obtain medical help.

If in doubt about whether a person has received a spinal injury, assume he or she has.

A spinal cord injury is very serious because it can mean the loss of sensation and function in the parts of the body below the site of the injury.

Causes:
  • awkward positioning of the body
  • bullet or stab wound
  • direct trauma to the face, neck, head or back
  • diving accident
  • electric shock
  • exertion
  • twisting of the trunk



Symptoms:



Do not:

  • DO NOT bend, twist, or lift the victim's head or body.
  • DO NOT attempt to move the victim before medical help arrives unless it is absolutely necessary.
  • DO NOT remove a helmet if a spinal injury is suspected.



Call Your Healthcare Provider if:

  • there has been any injury to the neck or spinal cord. Keep the victim absolutely immobile. Unless there is urgent danger, keep the victim in the position where he or she was found.



First Aid:
1. Check the victim's airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing and CPR . If you think the victim might have a head, neck, or spinal injury; lift the chin rather than tilt the head back when attempting to open the airway. Keep the victim's head, neck and back in line and roll him or her as a unit.

2. Immobilize the victim's head and torso in the position found.

3. If the victim must be moved, get several people to help. Use a sturdy support (such as a plank) as a stretcher. Together, roll the victim's entire body as a unit - keeping the head, neck, and back in a straight line - onto the stretcher.

4. Immobilize the victim's head and torso in the position found. Place rolled-up towels, clothing, or blankets around the victim's head and torso. Use ropes, belts, tape, or strips of cloth to hold the victim in place on the stretcher. Carry the stretcher as horizontally as possible.

5. If you are the only rescuer and the victim must be moved, use the clothes drag technique with victim lying face up or face down (however he or she was found).

6. If the victim vomits or is choking on blood, carefully roll him or her on one side. Vomiting can mean internal injuries.

7. Keep the victim warm to help prevent shock .

8. Give first aid for obvious injuries, but keep the victim in the position found.

Prevention:

  • Regular exercise , good posture, and lifting heavy objects correctly (letting your leg muscles do most of the work) all help prevent back problems.
  • Wear seat belts.
  • Avoid alcohol with driving.
  • Avoid diving into lakes, rivers, and surf.
  • Avoid motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.
  • Avoid football.
  • Back pain , if it occurs, should be discussed with the doctor.




The spine is divided into several sections. The cervical vertebrae make up the neck. The thoracic vertebrae comprise the chest section and have ribs attached. The lumbar vertebrae are the remaining vertebrae below the last thoracic bone and the top of the sacrum. The sacral vertebrae are caged within the bones of the pelvis, and the coccyx represents the terminal vertebrae or vestigial tail.



These are the seven bones of the neck, called the cervical vertebra. The top bone, seen on the right of this picture, is called the atlas, and is where the head attaches to the neck. The second bone is called the axis, upon which the head and atlas rotate. The vertebra are numbered from one to seven from the atlas down, and are referred to as C1, C2, C3, etc.



These are the five vertebra of the lower back. The last vertebra (on the upper left of the picture) attaches to the sacrum, and the top vertebra (on the right of the picture) attaches to the thoracic section of the back. The vertebra are broader and stronger than the other bones in the spine. This allows them to absorb the added pressure applied to the lower back, but this area remains a common sight of injury. The vertebra are numbered from one to five and are labeled L1, L2, L3 etc. from the higher bones to the lower.



These are twelve vertebra of the mid back. The last vertebra (on the left side of the picture) attaches to the lumbar (lower) spine, and the top vertebra (on the right) attaches to the cervical (neck) section of the back. The vertebra are broader and stronger than the cervical bones. This allows them to absorb the added pressure applied to the mid back, but they remain a common sight of injury. The vertebra are numbered from one to twelve and labeled T1, T2, T3 etc. from the upper most bones to the lowest.



This is the spine and the sacrum with the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (lower back) vertebra. Notice how the appearance of the vertebra change as you look down the spine. The change in shape and size reflect the different functions of the neck, mid-back, and lower back.