If you arrive at the emergency room with a significant neck injury, there is a good chance you will be sent for a CT scan. During a CT scan, lots of x-ray images are taken from different angles and then processed by computer to provide a much more detailed information than a regular x-ray examination. CT is excellent for getting clear images of bones and surrounding tissue, and radiologists are trained to spot even the smallest problem.
This CT image shows a patient whose cervical spine is dislocated, causing immediate paralysis.
