Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification (SLIC) System

Updated: Apr 20, 2023
  • Author: Buck Christensen; Chief Editor: Buck Christensen  more...
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Sub-axial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System (SLICS)

The Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification (SLIC) system is a classification system for subaxial cervical spine trauma that helps determine information about injury pattern and severity, in addition to treatment considerations and prognosis. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Table 1. SLIC System (Open Table in a new window)

Characteristic

Points

Morphology

No abnormality

0

Compression

Burst

1

+1=2

Distraction (eg, facet perch, hyperextension)

3

Rotation/translation (eg, facet dislocation, unstable teardrop or advanced-stage flexion compression injury)

4

Discoligamentous complex (DLC)

Intact

0

Indeterminate (eg, isolated interspinous widening, MRI signal change only)

1

Disrupted (eg, widening of disk space, facet perch or dislocation)

2

Neurological status

Intact

0

Root injury

1

Complete cord injury

2

Incomplete cord injury

3

Continuous cord compression in setting of neurodeficit (Neuro Modifier)

+1

Table 2. Interpretation of SLIC System Scoring (Open Table in a new window)

Score

Interpretation

< 4

Nonoperative treatment

4

Operative versus nonoperative

≥5

Operative treatment