National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) Low-Risk Criteria
Clinical evaluation and history have been proven effective in guiding the need for radiography to further evaluate patients with possible clinically significant cervical spine injury. [1] The National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) Low-Risk Criteria (NLC) were first described in 1992 and state that cervical-spine radiography is indicated for patients with trauma unless they meet all of the following 5 criteria [2, 3, 4] :
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No posterior midline cervical-spine tenderness
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No evidence of intoxication
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A normal level of alertness
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No focal neurologic deficit
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No painful distracting injuries
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