This patient should be managed following an ATLS approach.
This involves airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure assessment and intervention as required.
The cervical-spine should also be stabilised and assessed in one of the first steps of the ABCDE approach.
CT is the best case to assess cranial injury and any bony injury. Although plain x-ray of the cervical spine is used and recommended by the ATLS, there can be issues visualising the whole spine (including below C7) and does not show any internal injury.
Presentation
Emergency admission. Head injury in motor vehicle collision (RTC).