Spinal injury has the ability to maim and kill, but appropriate diagnosis and early treatment should result in minimization of secondary neurological injury and the restoration of the integrity of the spinal column. Rapid early diagnosis is essential and an impressive array of imaging technology is now available to the clinician. However, plain radiography remains the starting point for imaging of patients with potential spinal injury. This article reviews the role of plain radiography and the indications for further imaging, specifically with computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
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