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Introduction
Today, we want to discuss a crucial aspect of injury diagnosis that often gets overlooked: detecting upper cervical spine injuries. For those working in injury care, this is a vital area to address, especially because upper cervical injuries are frequently missed. These injuries are of particular significance due to their direct impact on neurology, often mimicking the symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In fact, understanding cervical spine injuries—specifically ligament instability in the upper cervical region—can transform how we treat patients with mTBI symptoms.
Understanding the Connection Between Cervical Spine Injuries and mTBI Symptoms
In the field of mild traumatic brain injuries, we commonly assess patients for six clinical trajectory patterns:
1. Visual disturbances
2. Balance difficulties
3. Cognitive issues
4. Behavioral changes
5. Headaches
6. Cervical profile issues
The cervical profile, which relates directly to injuries in the upper cervical spine, is often the most misunderstood and neglected area in mTBI evaluations. Yet, it is one of the most critical, as upper cervical instability can cause symptoms across all these categories.
Cervical Injuries and Headache Treatment
Speaking of headaches, many headache sufferers are often misdiagnosed. According to the American Headache Society, one in four households has someone dealing with migraines. While we may not immediately associate migraines with traumatic brain injuries, doctors who understand cervical conditions know that upper cervical instability is a leading cause of persistent headaches. Identifying and stabilizing this instability can result in dramatic symptom improvement for migraine sufferers.
This presents a significant opportunity for providers: by specializing in the assessment and treatment of upper cervical injuries, you can develop highly successful headache clinics. By focusing on radiographic findings of upper cervical instability and developing targeted treatment protocols, doctors can address the root cause of many headache conditions.
The Importance of Excessive Motion Testing and Proper Positioning
At Spinal Kinetics, we are committed to elevating the profession through excessive motion testing. This is an essential tool for detecting cervical instability and improving diagnostic accuracy. One common challenge doctors face is proper positioning during these imaging studies. If you encounter any issues with positioning, our team at Spinal Kinetics can provide a positioning guide to ensure accurate results.
Why Doctors Must Understand Cervical Injuries in the Injury Space
For years, we've said that injured patients cannot afford to see doctors who don’t fully understand their injuries. The long-term risks of improper care are simply too high. When dealing with spinal injuries—especially those involving the upper cervical region—a comprehensive workup is essential. Doctors who fail to conduct thorough assessments of cervical injuries are deficient in their work, and arguably should not be treating these types of cases.
I hope this discussion has been helpful in understanding the importance of upper cervical injury assessments, particularly in the context of mild traumatic brain injury. If you have any questions, need a positioning guide, or want to set up an account with Spinal Kinetics, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help you improve your diagnostic capabilities and, ultimately, your patient outcomes.