GERIATRIC CERVICAL SPINE INJURY

Course overview

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL AMBULATORY MEDICAL CARE SURVEY, THERE ARE 12 INJURY-RELATED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS FOR EVERY 100 PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 65 ANNUALLY. GERIATRIC PATIENTS ACCOUNT FOR A QUARTER OF TRAUMA ADMISSIONS NATIONALLY. CERVICAL SPINE INJURIES ARE RELATIVELY COMMON IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION. THESE INJURIES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY RATES. THIS ACTIVITY EXAMINES WHEN THIS CONDITION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND HOW TO PROPERLY EVALUATE THESE CONDITIONS. THIS ACTIVITY ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.