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NEXUS criteria for cervical-spine imaging
Clinically clears the cervical spine without imaging.
NEXUS criteria for cervical-spine imaging
Posterior midline cervical tenderness
Evidence of intoxication
Altered level of alertness / mental status
Focal neurologic deficit
Distracting painful injury
ResultLow probability of injury
All five criteria absent — cervical spine can be cleared clinically without imaging.
When to use
- Deciding whether alert, stable blunt-trauma patients need cervical-spine imaging.
Formula
Clear clinically only if ALL absent: midline tenderness, intoxication, altered alertness, focal neurologic deficit, distracting injury.