National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS)

Updated: Apr 20, 2023
Author: Buck Christensen; Chief Editor: Buck Christensen 

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] :

  • No posterior midline cervical-spine tenderness

  • No evidence of intoxication

  • A normal level of alertness

  • No focal neurologic deficit

  • No painful distracting injuries