Professional
Technical
IVT
NEXUS criteria
Also written as: NEXUS — National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study
Clinical decision rules for determining when cervical spine imaging is necessary in trauma patients.
Full Definition
A validated set of five clinical criteria used to identify trauma patients who do not require cervical spine radiography: no posterior midline cervical tenderness, no focal neurological deficit, normal alertness, no intoxication, and no painful distracting injury. Developed by the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study, these criteria help clinicians safely clear the cervical spine without imaging when all criteria are met.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize NEXUS as it represents the study name, not just the concept.
In Context
- "The patient met all five NEXUS criteria, allowing clinical clearance of the cervical spine." — emergency department note
- "NEXUS criteria should be applied systematically to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure." — protocol documentation
Also known as
NEXUS rules
NEXUS protocol
Don't confuse with
Canadian C-spine rule