The role of computed tomography and Glasgow Coma Scale in detecting spinal injury associated with traumatic brain injuries

Authors

  • Fadia Abdul-Ameer Merza
  • Ghazwan Alwan Lafta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15386/mpr-2117

Keywords:

CT scan, Glasgow Coma Scale, cervical spine injury, fall from height, traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of this study is to identify the role of computed tomography scan (CT scan) of the cervical spine and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in detecting spinal injuries associated with head injury.

Methods. This cross sectional study was conducted in the emergency department of Baghdad teaching hospital prospectively from October 2016 to October 2017. A total of 469 patients were included in this study, 59 of them with spine injury. All patients were examined promptly and were treated accordingly; all were subjected to X-rays and CT-scan of the skull and cervical spine for evaluation of head and cervical spinal injury, respectively.

Results. A total of 469 patients were enrolled in this study, mean age of 42.6 ± 13.7 years. The majority of patients were male (383/469) representing 81.7%. There was a significant correlation between Severity of TBI and cervical injury (P<0.001). There was a significant association between cervical injury and the presence of clinical and radiographic findings and associated injuries (P<0.001). It was found that cervical injury was more frequent in patients who were exposed to fall from a height.

Conclusion. CT scan and Glasgow coma scale are highly specific, sensitive, and accurate, with positive and negative predictive values.

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Published

2022-02-11

How to Cite

1.
Merza FA-A, Lafta GA. The role of computed tomography and Glasgow Coma Scale in detecting spinal injury associated with traumatic brain injuries. Med Pharm Rep [Internet]. 2022 Feb. 11 [cited 2025 Oct. 5];95(2):158-64. Available from: https://medpharmareports.com/index.php/mpr/article/view/2117

Issue

Section

Original Research