This interactive lecture discusses the pathophysiology and assessment of spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injury can occur at any age, but it usually happens in those 16 to 35 years of age because this age group is involved in the most violent and high-risk activities. Proper assessment and management in the prehospital setting is crucial to avoiding permanent damage to the spinal cord.
After completing this course, the practitioner will be able to:
Recall the epidemiology of spinal injuries.
Select patients with the potential for spinal trauma.
Relate the signs and symptoms of spinal injury and neurogenic shock with their underlying pathophysiology.
Apply the principles of anatomy and pathophysiology with assessment data and principles of trauma management to formulate a treatment plan for the patient with obvious or potential spinal injury.
Identify the indications for selective spinal immobilization.
Summarize the principles of selective spinal immobilization and how the application of these principles may change dependent on the patient and the situation.
Practitioners who successfully complete the Central Nervous System Trauma: Injuries to the Spinal Cord (BLS Edition) course are eligible for 0.5 hours of continuing education
