Hello, Have You Heard of NEXUS/CCR?

In the same vein as my previous post inappropriate imaging despite the presence of PERC, this next article takes our evaluation of minor trauma to task.

This brief retrospective series looked only at presentations to the Emergency Department following “ground level fall” leading to a CT of the cervical spine.  These authors defined a “ground level fall” as fall of fewer than 3 feet or 5 stairs.  These authors then reviewed the documentation associated with each case for criteria specifically excluding the case from NEXUS or CCR and appropriate for CT imaging.

Of the 760 patients with ground-level falls included in this study, there were 7 cervical spine fractures – 6 stable, and 1 unstable.  All patients with a cervical spine fracture had documented criteria supporting appropriate CT imaging.  However, based on their retrospective review, 22.0% and 20.7% of encounters specifically documented criteria meeting NEXUS and CCR, and should not have led to CT imaging.  An additional 9.3% and 29.9% of patients had insufficient documentation of NEXUS or CCR criteria needed to determine appropriateness.

These authors posit there may be substantial cost savings to the healthcare system if these decision instruments are appropriately applied.  I tend to agree – although, there are obvious limitations to this sort of retrospective review.  It does, at least, back up my own anecdotal experience witnessing clinically questionable use of advanced imaging in minor trauma.

“Utility of computed tomography imaging of the cervical spine in trauma evaluation of ground level fall”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27032009