For an unresponsive patient with suspected spinal injury, which airway maneuver is preferred?

For an unresponsive patient with suspected spinal injury, which airway maneuver is preferred?

• A. Jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway.
• B. Head-tilt chin-lift.
• C. Nose pinch and tilt.
• D. No airway management.

Answer: (A)

Protecting the spine while opening the airway is the key idea when a spinal injury is suspected. The jaw-thrust lifts the mandible forward to move the tongue away from the back of the throat, opening the airway without tilting or turning the head. This preserves cervical spine alignment while still allowing you to assess breathing and provide ventilation. In contrast, the head-tilt chin-lift would extend the neck and could worsen a possible spinal injury by changing the alignment of the cervical spine. The suggested nose pinching and tilting isn’t a recognized reliable airway maneuver for trauma, and doing nothing risks airway obstruction and inadequate breathing.

Protecting the spine while opening the airway is the key idea when a spinal injury is suspected. The jaw-thrust lifts the mandible forward to move the tongue away from the back of the throat, opening the airway without tilting or turning the head. This preserves cervical spine alignment while still allowing you to assess breathing and provide ventilation.

In contrast, the head-tilt chin-lift would extend the neck and could worsen a possible spinal injury by changing the alignment of the cervical spine. The suggested nose pinching and tilting isn’t a recognized reliable airway maneuver for trauma, and doing nothing risks airway obstruction and inadequate breathing.