nexus_c_spine_criteria: NEXUS Criteria for C-Spine Imaging

In cliot: Clinical Indices and Outcomes Tools

NEXUS Criteria for C-Spine Imaging

Description

Calculates the NEXUS (National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study) criteria result to determine the need for cervical spine imaging in blunt trauma patients. If all five criteria are absent, the patient is considered low risk and can be cleared clinically without imaging.

Usage

nexus_c_spine_criteria(focal_neurologic_deficit, midline_spinal_tenderness,
                       altered_level_of_consciousness, intoxication,
                       distracting_injury)

Arguments

focal_neurologic_deficit	Numeric (0 or 1). Presence of focal neurologic deficit. (1 = Yes).
midline_spinal_tenderness	Numeric (0 or 1). Presence of posterior midline cervical spinal tenderness. (1 = Yes).
altered_level_of_consciousness	Numeric (0 or 1). Presence of an altered level of consciousness (GCS < 15, disorientation, etc.). (1 = Yes).
intoxication	Numeric (0 or 1). Is there evidence of intoxication? (1 = Yes).
distracting_injury	Numeric (0 or 1). Is there a painful distracting injury? (1 = Yes).

Value

A list containing:

Result	Recommendation regarding the need for C-spine imaging ("Indicated" or "Not Indicated").
Inputs	A summary of the criteria evaluated.

References

Hoffman JR, Mower WR, Wolfson AB, et al. Validity of a set of clinical criteria to rule out injury to the cervical spine in patients with blunt trauma. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(2):94-99. doi:10.1056/NEJM200007133430203

Examples

# Example 1: Low Risk (Cleared)
# No deficits, no tenderness, alert, sober, no distracting injury
nexus_c_spine_criteria(0, 0, 0, 0, 0)

# Example 2: Imaging Indicated (Distracting Injury)
# Distracting injury present
nexus_c_spine_criteria(0, 0, 0, 0, 1)

cliot documentation built on Dec. 1, 2025, 1:06 a.m.