Impact of intravenous acetaminophen therapy on the necessity of cervical spine imaging in patients w

• 作 者: Koorosh Ahmadi Amir Masoud Has
• 机 构: Department of Emergency Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran“,”Department of
• 出 处: 中华创伤杂志（英文版）
• 发表日期: 2014年4期
• 关键词: Acetaminophen Diagnosis Spinal Injuries Cervical vertebrae Radiography

Objective:We evaluated a new hypothesis of acetaminophen therapy to reduce the necessity of imaging in patients with probable traumatic cervical spine injury.Methods:Patients with acute blunt trauma to the neck and just posterior midline cervical tendess received acetaminophen (15 mg/kg) intravenously after cervical spine immobilization.Then,all the patients underwent plain radiography and computerized tomography of the cervical spine.The outcome measure was the presence of traumatic cervical spine injury.Sixty minutes after acetaminophen infusion,posterior midline cervical tendemess was reassessed.Results:Of 1 309 patients,41 had traumatic cervical spine injuries based on imaging.Sixty minutes after infusion,posterior midline cervical tendess was eliminated in 1 041 patients,none of whom had abnormal imaging.Conclusion:Patients with cervical spine trauma do not need imaging if posterior midline cervical tendemess is eliminated after acetaminophen infusion.This analgesia could be considered as a diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.