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 |