NEXUS criteria for cervical spine imaging
Five criteria that, when all absent, rule out the need for cervical spine imaging.
Inputs
Posterior midline cervical tenderness
Focal neurologic deficit
Altered alertness
Evidence of intoxication
Painful distracting injury
Worked calculation
Your values are highlighted.
- Criteria present
When to use
- Blunt trauma patients being considered for cervical spine imaging.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Less specific than the Canadian C-Spine Rule.
- Use caution in older adults.
Why use
Simple and widely used.
Positive if any criterion is present