Melclin
Forum Deputy Chief
- 1,796
- 4
- 0
Question 1: Has anybody ever come across the idea that LOC precludes a patient from being clinically cleared? Its in our clearance guidelines and I've never been able to figure out why. I mostly ignore it but given that I do, I'd like to understand it better. Nobody has ever been able to provide me with a good reason.
The only two things I can think of:
1. If they've had an LOC, then they're not reliable to be examined, which seems absurd.
2. If the blow to the head was sufficient to cause LOC, then it was sufficient to cause spinal injury - Also absurd. My understanding is that even in the most severe of head injuries, the presence of the injury alone doesn't predict spinal injury.
Question 2: Hx of vertebral disease is also included in the clearance criteria. I am aware that this may increase the likelihood on injury, but does it increase the likelihood of occult injury. Why can't they just be examined like the rest of us and if they have evidence of injury, then they cannot be cleared. Is it simply because pt like this are often excluded for clearance criteria research and we there for have little data to guide us on the topic so we can't clear them?
The only two things I can think of:
1. If they've had an LOC, then they're not reliable to be examined, which seems absurd.
2. If the blow to the head was sufficient to cause LOC, then it was sufficient to cause spinal injury - Also absurd. My understanding is that even in the most severe of head injuries, the presence of the injury alone doesn't predict spinal injury.
Question 2: Hx of vertebral disease is also included in the clearance criteria. I am aware that this may increase the likelihood on injury, but does it increase the likelihood of occult injury. Why can't they just be examined like the rest of us and if they have evidence of injury, then they cannot be cleared. Is it simply because pt like this are often excluded for clearance criteria research and we there for have little data to guide us on the topic so we can't clear them?