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Jun 20 2008, 10:52 PM EDT M.J.Fuller 118 words added, 1 word deleted, 1 photo added
Jun 20 2008, 10:27 PM EDT M.J.Fuller 58 words added

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Introduction
The cervical spine is one of the mainstays of trauma radiography. The The lateral cervical spine view is usually a routine view in patients with severe trauma. The emphasis on clearing the cervical spine in major trauma patients reflects the importance of not missing cervical spine injuries. This page look at soft tissue signs of cervical spine trauma.

normal retropharngeal soft tissues


The retropharyngeal soft tissues can provide signs of cervical spine injury. This image demonstrates normal retropharyngeal soft tissues

Two assessments of prevertebral cervical spine soft tissues are commonly made.

C2 (black arrows)
The prevertebral soft tissues at C2 should measure less than 7mm

C6 (white arrows)
The prevertebral soft tissue sat C6 should measure less than 22mm . An alternative assessment is to compare the width of the adjacent cervical vertebral body. The prevertebral measurement should not be greater than the width of the vetebral body.


These criteria are guides only. Various studies have suggested alternative guidelines and any abnormal soft tissue findings should be interpreted in the context of bonyappearances, mechanism of injury and clinical signs.