A 24-year-old man comes off a trail bike at speed and arrives in a semi-rigid cervical collar and head blocks…

Question

A 24-year-old man comes off a trail bike at speed and arrives in a semi-rigid cervical collar and head blocks applied at the scene. He opens his eyes to voice, is combative, and repeatedly pulls at the collar; he has vomited once on the trolley. Oxygen saturation is 97 per cent on 6 L/min, blood pressure 138/82 mmHg and pulse 98/min. He has a scalp laceration and grazes over both shoulders, and he moves all four limbs. Which one of the following should be done first?

Accepted Answer

Replace the collar with manual support

Answer

Computed tomography of the cervical spine

Answer

Log roll to examine the back

Answer

Sedate with intravenous ketamine

Answer

Transfer the patient off the spinal board

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