Ultrasound evaluation of diaphragm function in patients with cervical spinal cord injury: case report

This case report discusses using ultrasound to check how well the diaphragm works in a patient with a spinal cord injury in their neck. The goal is to see if the patient needs help breathing from a machine. The patient had damage to their spinal cord at the C3 level. An ultrasound showed that the patient's diaphragm was not working well. Because of this, doctors performed a tracheotomy to help the patient breathe. Checking the diaphragm with ultrasound is a simple way to find out if someone with a neck spinal cord injury might have trouble breathing. It gives doctors information quickly so they can decide if the patient needs help with breathing.

• 1
  Ultrasound evaluation revealed diaphragmatic dysfunction in a patient with C3 spinal cord injury.
• 2
  Early tracheotomy and ventilatory support were initiated based on ultrasound findings of diaphragm dysfunction.
• 3
  Ultrasound is a useful and simple technique for diagnosing respiratory insufficiency in patients with cervical spinal cord injury.