A significant cervical spine fracture: think of the airway.

BACKGROUND

Airway compromise is a potential complication of significant cervical spine injury.

OBJECTIVES

To alert emergency physicians to be aware of possible airway collapse after serious cervical spine injury.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of an 87-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with an unstable cervical spine fracture after a fall. He subsequently developed complete upper airway obstruction from prevertebral soft tissue swelling, requiring a cricothyrotomy after a failed intubation attempt.

CONCLUSION

Patients with significant blunt cervical spine trauma can be at high risk for upper airway compromise.