Physical Exam

C Spine and Neck Palpation

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Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

With the patient seated and the neck muscles relaxed, palpate the posterior midline over the cervical spinous processes from the occiput downward, then palpate the paraspinal muscles, the trapezius, and the lateral neck, noting any tenderness, step-off, muscle spasm, or masses. Palpate the anterior neck structures (hyoid, thyroid and cricoid cartilages, tracheal position) and the soft tissues, noting tenderness, swelling, or deviation.

How to Interpret

This test’s findings are all below your current evidence filter.

References

Hoffman JR, Mower WR, Wolfson AB, Todd KH, Zucker MI. Validity of a set of clinical criteria to rule out injury to the cervical spine in patients with blunt trauma. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(2):94-99. PMID 10891516.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodes: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies. PMID 25824765.
Early and persistent hemothorax and pneumothorax. Curr Trauma Rep. 2015. doi:10.1007/s40719-015-0027-6.
Bickley LS, Szilagyi PG, Hoffman RM, Soriano RP. Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2021.
Swartz MH. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025.