Chang et al identified risk factors for cervical spine injury following a wave-forced impact at the beach. The authors are from the University of Hawaii.
Parameters:
(1) gender
(2) age
(3) body build
(4) beach characteristics (see previous section)
(5) comorbid vertebral conditions
(6) level of experience
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
gender |
male |
1 |
|
|
female |
0 |
|
age of the patient |
< 25 years |
0 |
|
|
>=25 years |
1 |
|
body build |
small |
0 |
|
|
moderate |
0 |
|
|
large |
1 |
|
beach characteristics |
no shorebreak |
0 |
|
|
mild shorebreak |
0 |
|
|
moderate shorebreak |
1 |
|
|
severe shorebreak |
2 |
|
comorbid vertebral conditions |
spinal stenosis and/or spondylosis |
1 |
|
|
none |
0 |
|
level of experience |
novice |
1 |
|
|
moderate |
0 |
|
|
significant |
0 |
where:
• The age range is an attempt to get control of age-related data. The mean age was 36 but may have been influenced by older aged persons (maximum age 75). The typical person appears to be a middle-aged tourist.
• Moderate to severe shorebreak is associated with increased risk. Since severe shorebreak imparts greater wave impacts I assigned it more points.
• 50% of patients had a body mass index >= 25.
total risk score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum risk score: 0
• maximum risk score: 7
• The greater the score the greater the risk of cervical spine injury.
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,
