NEXUS I - Decision Instrument (USA)
The National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) Low Risk Criteria for C-Spine Injury was validated in a large study of 34,069 patients of all age groups across twenty one centres in the United States of America. The results of this study were published by Hoffman et al in the article "Validity of a Set of Clinical Criteria to Rule Out Injury to the Cervical Spine in Patients with Blunt Trauma" in the NEJM, 2001, Volume 343, No.2. (Full text link to article for CIAP users).
The study was designed to assess the validity of the NEXUS Low Risk Criteria in ruling out cervical-spine injury in patients with blunt trauma. The criteria is as follows:
- The absence of tenderness at the posterior midline of the cervical spine
- The absence of a focal neurologic deficit
- A normal level of alertness
- No evidence of intoxication
- Absence of clinically apparent pain that might distract the patient from the pain of a cervical-spine injury.
Patients who met all five criteria were considered to have a low probability of injury and do not require radiographic or other imaging.
Source: Hoffman et al. Validity of a Set of Clinical Criteria to Rule Out Injury to the Cervical Spine in Patients with Blunt Trauma. NEJM. 343(2):94-99, July 13, 2000.
Also in this section:
» Candian C-Spine Rule - Decision Instrument» Early Acute Management in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury (USA)
» EAST Spinal Injury Trauma Practice Guideline (USA)
» NSW Methylprednisolone Protocol
» Spinal Log Roll Guide
» The Alfred Spinal Clearance Management Protocol