Which maneuver minimizes neck movement when opening the airway in suspected cervical spine injury?

• A. Nasal airway insertion
• B. Endotracheal intubation with neck stabilization
• C. Head tilt-chin lift
• D. Jaw-thrust maneuver

Answer: (D)

When there’s a suspected cervical spine injury, the priority is to open the airway while keeping the neck as still as possible. The jaw-thrust accomplishes this by lifting the lower jaw forward and bringing the tongue and soft tissues away from the airway without tilting or extending the head. You can perform it with the head in a neutral position and with manual inline stabilization of the neck, which minimizes movement of the cervical spine. Other methods either require moving the head or neck (like tilting the head back) or are more invasive and involve more neck adjustment during airway management, making them less suitable when spinal injury is a concern. The jaw-thrust thus provides the quickest, safest way to open the airway with minimal neck movement in this scenario.