Your unit has arrived on the scene of a multiple vehicle collision where several vehicles have rear-ended each other.You are directed by the incident commander to care for a 23-year-old female in the first vehicle.The firefighter on-scene holding manual spinal immobilization indicates that her primary complaint is back pain from her head whipping back and forth from the impact.Your understanding of the anatomy of the spinal column and vertebrae suggests that this type of mechanism of injury results in frequent injuries to which part of the spinal column?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cervical spine (neck area) is the most frequently injured area of the spinal column in cases where there is a mechanism of injury involving sudden deceleration or acceleration, such as a rear-end collision. This is due to the fact that the neck is not as stable as the thoracic or lumbar spine, and is more prone to injury from sudden forces. It is important to maintain manual spinal immobilization and to transport the patient on a long spine board with a cervical collar to prevent further injury.

Your Unit Has Arrived on the Scene of a Multiple