[Critical notes on the transport of patients with cervical spinal cord injuries].

Patients with a cervical spine injury who cannot be taken to a special centre immediately after the accident should be transferred to such a centre only when one is sure that no additional transportation trauma will be produced. The fracture cervical spine must be adequately stabilized during transportation. The partial oxygen pressure must not be lower than 60 mm Hg and one should wait at least 1 week post removal of tracheostomy tube. An acute stress ulcer (melaena) also has to be excluded.