ACS TQIP Spine Injury Best Practices Guidelines
Publication Date: March 21, 2022
Last Updated: March 23, 2022
KEY FACTORS OF THE INITIAL SPINE EVALUATION
Epidemiology
- Vehicular trauma and unintentional falls are the leading mechanisms of spinal cord injury.
- Older adults are more susceptible to spinal injuries related to their increased risk for low velocity falls and the presence of underlying arthritic and osteoporotic conditions.
CLASSIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF INJURY
Spine Injury Classification Systems
- Spine trauma classification systems include specific injury characteristics, as well as the patient’s medical or neurologic status.
- Patient scores for the classification system are used to guide decision making regarding surgery or nonsurgical management.
Title
Spine Injury Best Practices