While performing the primary assessment on a patient with an isolated spinal cord injury, you note that he is in severe respiratory distress and struggling to breathe. Where should you suspect the spinal cord injury has occurred?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Severe respiratory distress is a common symptom of a cervical spine injury, as the nerves controlling the diaphragm (which is the primary muscle involved in breathing) originate from the cervical spine.

While Performing the Primary Assessment on a Patient with an Isolated