Assessment of a young girl who was hit while riding her bike reveals her to be responsive to painful stimuli with flexion of the extremities and in respiratory distress. There is marked deformity to her thoracic spine and bruising noted to her anterior chest and abdomen. She does not move her legs when a noxious stimulus is applied to the lower extremities. Manual in-line spinal stabilization is being held and a cervical collar has been applied. Given the critical nature of this patient, which one of the following is most appropriate for her care?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most appropriate course of action for a critical patient with suspected spinal injuries is to completely immobilize them to the long board on scene prior to rapid transport to the hospital. While time is of the essence, it is important to take the time to properly immobilize the patient to prevent further injury to the spine. The cervical collar and manual in-line spinal stabilization should be maintained during the immobilization process. Rapid transfer to the stretcher with immobilization to the long board done en route to the hospital could result in further injury to the patient. Waiting for family members to arrive and give consent for treatment is not appropriate in a critical situation as it can delay necessary medical interventions. Transfer to the long board already placed on the stretcher and secure with straps en route to the hospital may lead to inadequate immobilization and further injury to the patient.

Assessment of a Young Girl Who Was Hit While Riding