Canadian C-Spine Rule - Decision Instrument
"The Canadian C-Spine Rule for Radiography in Alert and Stable Trauma Patients" by Stiell et al was published in JAMA, October 17, 2001 - Vol 286, No. 15 (full text link to article for CIAP users).
The objective was to derive a clinical decision rule that is highly sensitive for detecting acute C-Spine injury resulting in the more selective use of radiography in alert and stable trauma patients.
It is a cohort study of 8,924 adults presenting across ten large Canadian community and university Emergency Departments between 1996 and 1999 with blunt trauma to the head/neck with stable vital signs and a Glasgow Coma Score of 15.
The Canadian C-Spine Rule is comprised of three main questions:
- Is there any high risk factor present that mandates radiography?
- Is there any low risk factor present that allows safe assessment of range of motion?
- Is the patient able to actively rotate the neck 45o to the left and right?
A simple algorithm was developed and is viewable through the link to the article above.
Source: Stiell et al. The Canadian C-Spine Rule for Radiography in Alert and Stable Trauma Patients. JAMA. 2001; 286:1841-1848
Also in this section:
» Early Acute Management in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury (USA)» EAST Spinal Injury Trauma Practice Guideline (USA)
» NEXUS I - Decision Instrument (USA)
» NSW Methylprednisolone Protocol
» Spinal Log Roll Guide
» The Alfred Spinal Clearance Management Protocol