The identification of cervical spine injuries can pose prohibitive problems to the treating physician due to the complexity of injuries, patient comorbidities and patient volumes. Improved diagnostic accuracy can be achieved with a risk assessment-based implementation of screening computed tomography (CT) with a quality-assurance process. Timely surgical intervention using state-of-the-art instrumentation techniques, which de-emphasize the need for prolonged recumbence or external immobilization, may improve patient outcomes and survival chances. From the Series:Treatment of Cervical Spine Disorders