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- Talk
- 23/09/2021
- UK
Immediate Assessment, Care and Referral of Spinal Trauma
Description
This VTT provides a detailed transcript of a medical presentation on the management of spinal trauma patients, led by consultant surgeon Santosh Baliga. The talk covers various aspects of spinal injury assessment and care, including pre-hospital management, recent changes in guidelines, and the critical importance of understanding regional variations in treatment protocols. Baliga emphasizes the shift towards self-extrication, updated immobilization techniques, and identifies the guidelines that inform practice, notably NICE guideline 46.
Key topics include:
- Immediate assessment of patients with spinal injury, with a focus on preventing secondary injuries such as hypotension and hypoxia.
- The importance of early intubation in patients with high cervical injuries and the use of vasopressors to maintain spinal cord perfusion.
- Revised imaging protocols that prioritize CT over traditional X-rays and the need for comprehensive imaging in cases of cervical fractures due to the high prevalence of concurrent injuries.
- Updated practices surrounding log rolling to avoid complications in pelvic fractures, and emphasizing careful assessment and monitoring of neurological deficits in spinal cord injury patients.
Baliga concludes with a strong emphasis on efficient communication between trauma centers and spinal surgery units, as well as the need for proper documentation of neurological status using ASIA charts to aid in continuous patient care and rehabilitation efforts. The talk invites questions from the audience, highlighting the collaborative nature of healthcare in managing complex spinal cases.