Neck pain resulting from trauma (such as a fall or car crash) is a common reason for people to present to the emergency department. Very few patients have a cervical spinal injury that can be detected on radiographs ("X-rays"). History, physical examination and the application of clinical decision rules (i.e., the Canadian C-spine rule) can identify alert and stable trauma patients who do not have cervical spinal injuries and therefore do not need radiography. The Canadian C-spine rule has been validated and implemented successfully in Canadian centres, and physicians should not order imaging unless this rule suggests otherwise. Unnecessary radiography delays care, may cause increased pain and adverse outcomes (from prolonged spinal board immobilization), and exposes the patient to ionizing radiation without any possible benefit. This strategy will reduce the proportion of alert patients who require imaging.
Conditions: Neck Pain, Trauma
Diagnostic Tests: Neck Imaging, Cervical Imaging, Radiography, X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT Scanning), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Tools: Canadian C-Spine Rules
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