Concurrent cranial and cervical spine injuries by associated injury mechanisms in traumatic brain injury patients
SA Journal of Radiology
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Concurrent cranial and cervical spine injuries by associated injury mechanisms in traumatic brain injury patients | |
| Creator | Hlwatika, Pilasande Hardcastle, Timothy C. | |
| Description | Background: The incidence of concurrent traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cervical spine injury (c-spine) is relatively high, with a variety of risk factors.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and related factors associated with combined cranial and c-spine injury in TBI patients by assessing their demographics and clinical profiles.Method: A retrospective study of patients attending the Trauma Centre at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital as post head trauma emergencies and their CT brain and c-spine imaging performed between January 2018 and December 2018.Results: A total of 236 patients met the criteria for the study; 30 (12.7%) patients presented with concurrent c-spine injury. Most TBI patients were males (75%) and accounted for 70% of the c-spine injured patients. The most common mechanism of injury with a relationship to c-spine injury was motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) and/or pedestrian vehicle collisions (70%). The risk factors associated with c-spine injury in TBI patients were cerebral contusions (40%), traumatic subarachnoid haematomas (36%) and skull fractures (33.3%). The statistically significant intracranial injury type more likely to have an associated c-spine injury was diffuse axonal injury (p = 0.04).Conclusion: The results suggest that concurrent TBI and c-spine injury should be considered in patients presenting with a contusion, traumatic subarachnoid haematoma and skull fracture. The high incidence of c-spinal injury and more than 1% incidence of spinal cord injury suggests that c-spine scanning should be employed as a routine for post MVC patients with cranial injury. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2022-03-24 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajr.v26i1.2321 | |
| Source | South African Journal of Radiology; Vol 26, No 1 (2022); 5 pages 2078-6778 1027-202X | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajr.org.za/index.php/sajr/article/view/2321/3137
https://sajr.org.za/index.php/sajr/article/view/2321/3138
https://sajr.org.za/index.php/sajr/article/view/2321/3139
https://sajr.org.za/index.php/sajr/article/view/2321/3140
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