Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Practice Test

Which patient does not require spinal immobilization?

1. Intoxicated patient in a MVC

2. Patient who fell 8 feet and lost consciousness

3. Patient complaining of pain on palpation of the neck

4. Patient with a knife wound to the chest and a GCS of 15

The correct answer is: Patient with a knife wound to the chest and a GCS of 15

The patient with a knife wound to the chest and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 15 does not require spinal immobilization primarily because their level of consciousness and neurological status is intact. A GCS of 15 indicates that the patient is fully alert and oriented, which suggests that there are no immediate concerns regarding spinal injury from potential trauma. Spinal immobilization is typically indicated for patients who present with altered mental status, significant mechanism of injury, or any signs or symptoms of spinal injury, such as pain or tenderness upon palpation of the spinal region. In this case, the knife wound is a severe injury that requires immediate care, but if the patient is neurologically stable with a GCS of 15, the risks and benefits of spinal immobilization can be reassessed depending on the circumstances of the injury and the overall condition of the patient. The other scenarios presented involve patients who are either intoxicated, have experienced a significant fall with loss of consciousness, or are reporting neck pain, all of which raise concerns for a potential spinal injury and warrant immobilization as a precautionary measure.