Citation

Kiesel TM, Frerichs RL. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1969; 13: 73-81.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1969, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Injuries of the cervical spine have become a priminent part of our modern high-speed society; they are steadily increasing in number and in many instances cause prolonged inability to work and even permanent impairment. Canadian statistics show that 10% of road accident deaths are due to, or associated with, spinal fractures. trauma on Canadian roads accounted for 40% of the known new cases of post-traumatic, permanent spinal paralysis occurring during 1966--of these, approximately one-third were quadriplegic. not only accidents themselves are involved here, however, since it is estimated that 10% of quadriplegics become paralyzed as a result of poor first-aid handling and transportation after the accident. With these introductory statements in mind, it is the purpose of this paper to discuss some of the mechanisms of injury involved, to review the 10 year experience with these injuries at the Hennepin County General Hospital, to make some recommendations as to emergency management and transportation of these individuals, and to outline their management while hospitalized.