Diagnostic imaging of spinal trauma.

The radiologist has a pivotal role in evaluation of spinal trauma patients because proper treatment cannot begin before the abnormality is diagnosed. Plain films remain the screening modality of choice, and by understanding the radiographic signs of injury, patterns produced by various traumatic mechanisms can be recognized. As radiologists we can then provide insight to our clinical colleagues into the optimal methods of further investigation. The objective is to eliminate the possibility of further damage and to identify lesions amenable to correction.