BACKGROUND: Pediatric cervical spine clearance guidelines should reduce computed tomography (CT) usage in combined pediatric and adult trauma centers biased by adult CT clearance. METHODS: Cervical spine clearance under age 15 years was compared 12 months before (128 patients) and after (105 patients) guideline implementation, emphasizing National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) criteria when appropriate. RESULTS: CT scans in patients clearable by NEXUS criteria decreased 23% (p = 0.01) and decreased by 16% in cases where radiography other than CT was indicated by guidelines (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Guideline implementation can have an immediate effect in decreasing pediatric cervical spine CT usage and should improve across time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Care management study, level IV.
BACKGROUND: Pediatric cervical spine clearance guidelines should reduce computed tomography (CT) usage in combined pediatric and adult trauma centers biased by adult CT clearance. METHODS: Cervical spine clearance under age 15 years was compared 12 months before (128 patients) and after (105 patients) guideline implementation, emphasizing National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) criteria when appropriate. RESULTS: CT scans in patients clearable by NEXUS criteria decreased 23% (p = 0.01) and decreased by 16% in cases where radiography other than CT was indicated by guidelines (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Guideline implementation can have an immediate effect in decreasing pediatric cervical spine CT usage and should improve across time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Care management study, level IV.
Authors: Justin M Moore; Jonathan Hall; Michael Ditchfield; Christopher Xenos; Andrew Danks Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2016-12-06 Impact factor: 1.475
Authors: Daniel Jack Frush; Clayton W Commander; Terry Scott Hartman; Aaron Kyle Cecil; Brian Douglas Handly; Daniel B Park; Lynn Ansley Fordham Journal: Pediatr Radiol Date: 2019-12-05