Jaw-Thrust Maneuver: Airway Opening for Suspected Neck Injury
In trauma with potential cervical spine injury, the jaw-thrust (without head tilt) is the maneuver of choice to open the airway.
Technique
- Kneel at patient's head.
- Place fingers behind angles of mandible bilaterally.
- Lift jaw upward and forward (displaces tongue anteriorly).
- Do not tilt or extend neck.
- If ineffective, add slight head tilt (last resort) — maintain inline stabilization throughout.
Why Not Head-Tilt/Chin-Lift?
Neck extension risks worsening unstable cervical fracture/dislocation → spinal cord injury.
Adjuncts
- Oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal airway if unconscious.
- Bag-valve-mask ventilation with two-person technique (one maintains jaw-thrust + seal).
- Prepare for definitive airway (RSI + intubation with video laryngoscopy, manual in-line stabilization).
Jaw-thrust is a BLS skill; all rescuers must master it.
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