ToolsCalculators
NEXUS Head CT instrument
NEXUS Head CT instrument
Evidence of significant skull fracture
Scalp haematoma
Neurologic deficit
Abnormal level of alertness
Abnormal behaviour
Persistent vomiting
Coagulopathy
Age ≥65 years
ResultHead CT can be omitted
None of the 8 criteria present — low risk of clinically important intracranial injury; head CT can be safely avoided.
- Criteria present
- 0 of 8
When to use
- Blunt head trauma patients of any age in whom head CT is being considered.
Formula
Head CT indicated if any of 8 criteria are present: significant skull fracture, scalp haematoma, neurologic deficit, abnormal alertness, abnormal behaviour, persistent vomiting, coagulopathy, or age ≥65 years.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Patients with any criterion, or any unassessable criterion, are classified high risk and require imaging.
- In the derivation cohort the rule identified 100% of patients needing neurosurgical intervention.