| A fracture (break) of the cervical spine is | | | | are more educated on how the fractures occur |
| commonly referred to as a broken neck. | | | | and how to prevent them. Protect yourself and |
| Approximately 5-10% of unconscious patients | | | | your family to always wear a seat belt, |
| who present to the ED as the result of a motor | | | | supervision of children and teenagers who are |
| vehicle accident or fall have a major injury to the | | | | swimming and diving in lakes and ponds. |
| cervical spine. Injuries to this region of the spine | | | | Cervical Spine Fracture Treatment and Prevention |
| are frequently a combination of sprain, dislocation | | | | Tips |
| and fracture. The most serious can injure the | | | | 1. Always wearing a seatbelt. |
| spinal cord, leading to paralysis or death. This type | | | | 2. Surgical is also recommeded |
| of accident may not cause a fracture but instead | | | | 3. Take whirlpool treatments, if available. |
| injure the muscles and ligaments of the neck. The | | | | 4. Using the proper equipment and training during |
| resulting injury is a neck sprain, which is | | | | athletic participation. |
| commonly called whiplash. | | | | 5. Drink only water before manipulation or surgery |
| Cervical spine injuries are ranked according to | | | | to treat the fracture. |
| several mechanisms of injury. These include | | | | 6. Massage gently and often to provide comfort |
| flexion, flexion-rotation, extension, expansion and | | | | and decrease swelling. |
| compression vertical rotation, lateral flexion, and | | | | 7. Use a "spotter" when attempting difficult |
| vaguely understood the mechanisms that can lead | | | | moves in gymnastics. |
| to odontoid fractures and atlanto-occipital | | | | 8. Use appropriate protective equipment, such as |
| dislocation. Cervical spine fractures and other | | | | padded collars and shoulder pads. |
| injuries to the neck less frequent because people | | | | |