Pediatric Cervical Spine Clearance: A Consensus Statement and Algorithm from the Pediatric Cervical Spine Clearance Working Group

Abstract

BACKGROUND: One recent survey of Level One Pediatric Trauma Centers shows only 46% of institutions utilize a standardized, written pediatric cervical spine clearance protocol. This study aims to create an expert, multi-disciplinary consensus statement and algorithm for pediatric cervical spine clearance by employing a modified Delphi method. METHODS: The Pediatric Cervical Spine Working Group is comprised of pediatric orthopaedic surgeons (n=15), pediatric emergency medicine physicians (n=3), pediatric trauma …