Which technique is best for opening a patient’s airway when spinal injury is suspected?

When spinal injury is suspected, the jaw-thrust maneuver is the most appropriate technique for opening a patient's airway. This method allows for the jaw to be moved forward, which can help maintain an open airway without putting additional pressure on the cervical spine, reducing the risk of exacerbating any potential spinal injury.

In situations where a spinal injury is present, it is essential to minimize movement of the head and neck, which is why the jaw-thrust maneuver is preferred over other techniques like the head-tilt maneuver or chin-lift maneuver. Both the head-tilt and chin-lift techniques involve moving the head and neck, which could lead to further injury if there is a spinal compromise. The finger sweep technique is unrelated to opening the airway itself, as it is used to remove visible foreign bodies obstructing the airway, not for positioning the airway. Thus, the jaw-thrust maneuver is the most effective and safest choice in this scenario.