New York State Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) Practice Exam

A 55-year-old male has a hematoma on his forehead and complains of tingling in both hands. What should you suspect?

1. Hypoperfusion

2. Cervical spine injury

3. Angina pectoris

4. Hyperventilation

The correct answer is: Cervical spine injury

In the scenario described, the combination of a hematoma on the forehead and tingling in both hands suggests a possible cervical spine injury. The hematoma indicates a trauma to the head, which can also affect the spine, particularly at the cervical level. Because of the close anatomical relationship between the head and the cervical spine, a head injury can lead to neurological symptoms if there is damage to the cervical structures or spinal cord. Tingling in both hands can be a sign of nerve involvement, commonly due to a cervical spine injury which may have caused pressure or damage to the nerves or spinal cord responsible for sensation and motor control in the upper extremities. This neurological symptom aligns with the mechanism of an injury that could compromise spinal function. While hypoperfusion, angina pectoris, and hyperventilation may present with various symptoms, they do not specifically correlate with a head injury and concurrent bilateral tingling in the hands in the same way that a cervical spine injury would. Understanding these relationships is key in assessing potential spinal cord injuries in trauma cases.