A 41-year-old male patient has been struck in the head with a metal pipe. As you approach the patient, you note that he is combative and has blood on the left side of his face and head and on his shirt. His breathing appears to be labored and he is incontinent of urine. Which one of the following would you perform immediately?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient has signs of a significant head injury and is showing signs of altered mental status and labored breathing. These symptoms suggest the possibility of a cervical spine injury. Taking manual in-line spinal stabilization will help prevent further injury to the patient's spinal cord during transport to the hospital. While oxygen and checking the pupils for equality and reactivity are important interventions, manual in-line spinal stabilization takes priority in this situation. Exposing the chest to look for possible bleeding is also important but not the immediate priority in this scenario.

A 41-Year-Old Male Patient Has Been Struck in the Head