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Assessment and management of a child with suspected acute neck injury

Chris Jones Senior lecturer clinical skills (child health), Birmingham City University, Edgbaston

Any child presenting at an emergency department after trauma, such as road traffic accidents, falls, sports and head injuries, should be assessed for risk of injury to the cervical spine. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the assessment and nursing management of a child with a suspected cervical spine injury. Basic anatomy is covered along with neck injury assessment, how to measure a cervical collar correctly, safe immobilisation, and communication.

Nursing Children and Young People. 24, 3, 29-33. doi: 10.7748/ncyp2012.04.24.3.29.c9026

Correspondence

chris.jones@bcu.ac.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Keywords :

Cervical collar - neck immobilisation - suspected cervical spine injury