Acute cervical spine trauma

Patient instructions are adjusted to individual circumstances in terms of injury severity and social situation. If a prescription medication is offered, the physician should also direct its use and potential side effects. All patients sustaining a cervical injury should be warned about the potential symptoms of neurological deficit (radiating arm pain, muscle weakness, sensory abnormalities, and bowel or bladder dysfunction).[84]American College of Surgeons; Trauma Quality Improvement Program. Best practices guidelines: spine injury. Mar 2022 [internet publication]. https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/trauma/quality/best-practices-guidelines ​ All patients who are discharged from the hospital with a normal neurological examination and who subsequently experience any symptoms of neurological deficit should be instructed to return to the emergency department for assessment, preferably via paramedics, who can apply a cervical collar to avoid permanent neurological deficit.