The Pan African Medical Journal (Jun 2018)

Application of the Canadian C-Spine rule and nexus low criteria and results of cervical spine radiography in emergency condition

  • William Ngatchou,
  • Jeanne Beirnaert,
  • Daniel Lemogoum,
  • Cyril Bouland,
  • Pierre Youatou,
  • Ahmed Sabry Ramadan,
  • Regis Sontou,
  • Maimouna Bol Alima,
  • Alain Plumaker,
  • Virginie Guimfacq,
  • Claude Bika,
  • Pierre Mols

DOI
https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2018.30.157.13256
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 157

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION: The Canadian C Spine Rule (CCR) and the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (Nexus) low criteria are well accepted as guide to help physician in case of cervical blunt trauma. METHODS: we aimed to evaluate retrospectively the application of these recommendations in our emergency department. Secondly we analyzed the quality of cervical spine radiography (CSR) in an emergency setting. RESULTS: 281 patients with cervical blunt trauma were analyzed retrospectively. The CCR and the NEXUS rules were respected in 91.2% and 96.8% of cases respectively. No lesions were found in 96.4% of patient. A lesion was present in 1.1% of patient and suspected in 2.5% of patient. The quality of CSR was adequate in only 37.7% of patient. The poor quality of CSR was due either to the lack of C7 vertebrae visualization in 64.6% or other lower vertebrae in 28%. Other causes included the absence of open mouth view (8%), the absence C1 vertebrae visualization (3.4%), artifact in 2.3% and the absence of lateral view in 0.6% of patient. CONCLUSION: CCR and NEXUS are widely used in our emergency department. The high rate of inadequate CSR reinforces the debate about it's utility in emergency condition.

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