AEMCA Practice Exam

What should be assessed before deciding to perform spinal motion restriction?

1. National guidelines for spinal injuries

2. Whether the patient is coherent

3. The mechanism of injury related to the patient's symptoms

4. Patient's prior medical history

The correct answer is: The mechanism of injury related to the patient's symptoms

Assessing the mechanism of injury related to the patient's symptoms is crucial before deciding to perform spinal motion restriction because it provides vital information about the likelihood of a spinal injury. Understanding how the injury occurred helps in determining the potential for trauma to the spinal cord or vertebrae. For instance, high-energy mechanisms such as falls from significant heights, motor vehicle collisions, or sports-related impacts may heighten the risk for spinal injuries, warranting spinal motion restriction to prevent further harm. The other aspects mentioned may be relevant in a comprehensive assessment, but they do not provide the same level of direct insight into the risk of spinal injury. National guidelines for spinal injuries serve as a framework but must be applied contextually based on individual cases. Patient coherence can help with assessing responsiveness and the patient's condition but does not give information about potential injuries. Similarly, a patient's prior medical history may offer insights into existing conditions but is less relevant to the immediate need for spinal motion restriction based on the current injury.