Welcome to episode 574 of the Divine Intervention podcast. In today's podcast, we're going to be

continuing the series on quick and dirty emergency medicine for the USMLEs. Quick and dirty emergency

medicine for the USMLEs. So this is a podcast that will help you if you're preparing for an EM shelf,

a surgery shelf, a medicine shelf. And if you're preparing for an EM shelf, a surgery shelf, a medicine shelf,

and if you're starting for step two or step three, for sure.

All right.

So we've done part one and part two.

So again, go back and listen to those if you've missed anything there.

So what should you do on your exams when there's a concern, especially when a person like falls from a

height or whatever? What is one thing we're always worried about? Well, obviously we're worried

about C-spine trauma, right? We're worried about cervical spine trauma. So typically, what should

you do and they'll ask what's the most appropriate next step in management for ruling out,

you know, cervical injury?

What should you pick on your exams?

I would really hope you're going to pick the answer that says to do a cervical x-ray, a cervical x-ray, right?

And again, despite what, because many resources say to use a CT scan, I wouldn't do a CT scan on the exam.

I'd only do a CT if for some reason cervical neck x-ray or like lateral neck x-ray is not given as an answer, right? Because the thing is

despite what many people, you know, would have you believe, cervical x-ray is actually very

sensitive. In fact, they are more than 90% sensitive

for picking out C-spine trauma.

And I guess as an added bonus

for you all listening to this podcast,

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