Cervical spine injuries result primarily from car accidents, falls, and sports activities (such as rugby or diving into shallow water).

They can occur in young and old, and can cause considerable complications - from chronic pain to medication dependence.

So what if anything can we do to ensure that it is diagnosed and managed correctly?

To answer this and other important questions, please do have a listen to this interview with Muhammad Dherijha, Consultant in Complex Spinal Surgery at the Northern Care Alliance in Manchester.

For more on cervical spine injuries, visit BMJ Best Practice.

Competing interests: none