What maneuver is used to open the airway in a suspected cervical spine injury?

• A. Jaw-thrust with inline stabilization
• B. Head-tilt chin-lift
• C. Mouth-to-mouth ventilation
• D. Chin lift only with no stabilization

Answer: (A)

Opening the airway in someone with a possible cervical spine injury must keep the neck still while still clearing the airway. The jaw-thrust with inline stabilization does exactly that: it moves the lower jaw forward to lift the tongue away from the back of the throat, opening the airway without extending or flexing the neck. By keeping the head in a neutral position and stabilizing the cervical spine with the other hand (or with a collar), you minimize movement of the spine while you establish a patent airway.

Head-tilt chin-lift, by contrast, requires tilting the head backward, which can worsen a cervical spine injury. A chin-lift with no stabilization still allows the neck to move. Mouth-to-mouth ventilation is a ventilation technique, not a method for safely opening the airway in a suspected spinal injury.