A pre-hospital clinician is considering whether a 45-year-old trauma patient with suspected C-spine injury can be cleared using clinical decision rule...

Question

A pre-hospital clinician is considering whether a 45-year-old trauma patient with suspected C-spine injury can be cleared using clinical decision rules. The patient is intoxicated (blood alcohol likely elevated). Can the C-spine be clinically cleared?

Accepted Answer

No - intoxication is a factor that prevents reliable clinical assessment and the C-spine cannot be cleared; maintain immobilisation

Answer

Only if the patient can actively rotate the neck 45 degrees

Answer

Yes - if there is no midline tenderness, the spine can be cleared regardless of intoxication

Answer

Yes - intoxication does not affect C-spine assessment

Answer

The C-spine can be cleared if a lateral X-ray is normal

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): C-Spine Clearance and Intoxication

A pre-hospital clinician is considering whether a 45-year-old trauma patient with suspected C-spine injury can be cleared using clinical decision rules. The patient is intoxicated (blood alcohol likely elevated). Can the C-spine be clinically cleared?