Emergency Department Management of Cervical Spine Injuries (Trauma CME)

CME Objectives

1. Explain a diagnostic approach to the patient with possible spinal cord injury (SCI)
2. Describe clinical scenarios in which missed SCI is likely and describe methods to avoid a missed injury
3. Outline a management pathway for patients with identified SCI
4. Describe patients with SCI who are at risk for acute decompensation from respiratory and/or hemodynamic complications.

CME Information

Date of Original Release: October 1, 2021. Date of most recent review: September 10, 2021. Termination date: October 1, 2024.

Accreditation: EB Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the ACCME.

Credit Designation: EB Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ACEP Accreditation: Emergency Medicine Practice is approved by the American College of Emergency Physicians for 48 hours of ACEP Category I credit per annual subscription.

AAFP Accreditation: The AAFP has reviewed Emergency Medicine Practice, and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. Term of approval is from 07/01/2021 to 06/30/2022. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

• 4.00 Enduring Materials, Self-Study AAFP Prescribed Credit(s)- Emergency Department Management of Cervical Spine Injuries

AOA Accreditation: Emergency Medicine Practice is eligible for 4 Category 2-A or 2-B credit hours per issue by the  American Osteopathic Association.

Specialty CME: Included as part of the 4 credits, this CME activity is eligible for 4 Trauma CME credits.

Needs Assessment: The need for this educational activity was determined by a survey of medical staff, including the editorial board of this publication; review of morbidity and mortality data from the CDC, AHA, NCHS, and ACEP; and evaluation of prior activities for emergency physicians.

Target Audience: This enduring material is designed for emergency medicine physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and residents.

Goals: Upon completion of this activity, you should be able to: (1) demonstrate medical decision-making based on the strongest clinical evidence; (2) cost-effectively diagnose and treat the most critical presentations; and (3) describe the most common medicolegal pitfalls for each topic covered.

Discussion of Investigational Information: As part of the journal, faculty may be presenting investigational information about pharmaceutical products that is outside Food and Drug Administration–approved labeling. Information presented as part of this activity is intended solely as continuing medical education and is not intended to promote off-label use of any pharmaceutical product.

Faculty Disclosures: It is the policy of EB Medicine to ensure objectivity, balance, independence, transparency, and scientific rigor in all CME-sponsored educational activities. All faculty participating in the planning or implementation of a sponsored activity are expected to disclose to the audience any relevant financial relationships and to assist in resolving any conflict of interest that may arise from the relationship. In compliance with all ACCME Essentials, Standards, and Guidelines, all faculty for this CME activity were asked to complete a full disclosure statement. The information received is as follows: Dr Jara-Almonte, Dr. Pawar, Dr. Abraham, Dr. Ham, Dr. Jagoda, Dr. Mishler, Dr. Toscano, and their related parties report no significant financial interest or other relationship with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) discussed in this educational presentation.

Commercial Support: This issue of Emergency Medicine Practice did not receive any commercial support.

Earning Credit: Go online to www.ebmedicine.net/CME and click on the title of the test you wish to take.When completed, a CME certificate will be emailed to you.

Hardware/Software Requirements: You will need a Macintosh or PC to access the online archived articles and CME testing.

Additional Policies: For additional policies, including our statement of conflict of interest, source of funding, statement of informed consent, and statement of human and animal rights, visit www.ebmedicine.net/policies.

Cover Image: Lateral x-ray of cervical spine showing bilateral facet joint dislocation. Illustration by Yok_onepiece.