Acute Management of Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries.

Traumatic cervical spinal cord injury can cause significant neurologic disability. A cervical spine injury impacts not only the neurologic system but also numerous other organ systems of the body. This complex injury requires a systematic approach to assessment and care aimed at preventing, recognizing, and treating potentially devastating secondary spinal cord injury and multisystem complications. This article focuses on the pathophysiology, initial presentation, and treatment of cervical spinal cord injury by body system.