C spine xr

C-spine XRs

Taken from the ATLS 9th Ed manual.

Anterior-Posterior

1. Assess adequacy and alignment

1. Identify the presence of all 7 cervical vertebrae and superior aspect of T1.
2. Identify the:

• Anterior vertebral line
• Anterior spinal line
• Posterior spinal line
• Spinous process A: Anterior vertebral line; B: Anterior spinal line; C: Posterior spinal line; D: Spinous process

2. Assess the bone

1. Examine all vertebrae for preservation of height and integrity of the bony cortex.
2. Examine facets.
3. Examine spinous processes.

3. Assess the disc spaces

Assess the cartilage, including examining the cartilaginous disk spaces for narrowing or widening.

4. Assess the dens

1. Examine the outline of the dens.
2. Examine the predental space (3 mm).
3. Examine the clivus; it should point to the dens.

5. Assess the extra-axial soft tissues

1. Examine the extra-axial space and soft tissues:

• 7 mm at C3
• 3 cm at C7

2. Examine the distances between the spinous processes