Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Resource to Ensure Exam Success!

The initial action when encountering a patient with a suspected spinal injury is to stabilize the spine and avoid unnecessary movement. This is crucial because movement can exacerbate any potential spinal cord injury, leading to further damage or complete loss of function. Stabilizing the cervical spine immediately helps to prevent additional trauma, particularly in a situation where the spinal cord may be compromised.

This approach emphasizes the importance of maintaining spinal alignment and ensuring that the head and neck are securely supported. Proper stabilization techniques might include using manual stabilization by holding the head in place or utilizing a cervical collar if available.

Immediate mobilization or assistance to a sitting position could cause further injury, as the patient may have undiagnosed injuries that could worsen with movement. Encouraging movement or applying traction to limbs could also introduce unnecessary risk and instability, compromising the patient's safety even further. Therefore, the focus should always be on preventing movement until a proper assessment can be made and the patient can be safely transported.