Snapshot A 27-year-old man presents to the emergency department after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. He was an unrestrained driver. When the emergency medical services arrived, the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation was maintained and his cervical spinal cord was immobilized on the field. In the emergency department he was arousable and answering questions appropriately. He reports severe neck pain. A CT scan of the neck demonstrates traumatic spondylosis of C2. Introduction Definition injury to the cervical spine Associated conditions traumatic brain injury Epidemiology Incidence the cervical spine is the most common site of spinal column injury Etiology Motor vehicle accidents Violent trauma Fall Sports-related injury Pathoanatomy anatomy the cervical spine consists of 7 cervical bony vertebrae which are separated by intervertebral disks and connected by a myriad of ligaments login to view 2 more bullets pathogenesis there are a number of causes of cervical spine injury and include login to view 7 more bullets Presentation Symptoms neck pain Physical exam neurological deficits may or may not be present Imaging CT of the cervical spine indication in patients getting CT imaging of the head, chest, and abdomen in hemodynamically unstable patients after they have had operative intervention Studies Making the diagnosis a clinical diagnosis supported by radiographic imaging Treatment Conservative spinal immobilization indication login to view 1 more bullet maintaining airway, breathing, and circulation indication login to view 1 more bullet There are a number of interventions of cervical spinal cord injury such as neurosurgical intervention and steroid administration Complications Respiratory failure