Alexia Maria Egloff MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gilbert Vezina MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dorothy Isabella Bulas MD, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV

Amanda Yaun, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nadja Kadom MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Evaluate the cervical trauma imaging evaluation paradigm at our institution.

Imaging in 476 patients (0-20 years) for cervical spine trauma at our institution from April to December 2006 were retrospectively reviewed.

88% percent of patients received an initial plain lateral x-ray. Of these, 83% were normal, 13% were limited technically but otherwise normal, 2% had straightened cervical curvature, 3% had suspected fracture. 33% of all patients were evaluated by cervical CT. Of these, 68% had no prior plain films taken. 82% of all CT studies were normal, 4.4% had straightened cervical curvature, 5% had soft tissue abnormalities, 3% had fracture/subluxation, 3% had anatomic/chronic changes, 0.6% (1 case) had suspected ligamentous injury. 64% of patients also had head CT, out of these 17% had skull fracture/brain injury and out of these 17% there were 9% with cervical spine fracture/ligamentous injury.

The recommended internal imaging paradigm is not well observed at our institution, which may be due to lack of training for rotating adult surgery residents. Larger number of patients will be evaluated and a subcohort will be identified to retrospectively apply the NEXUS criteria, Canadian C-spine rule and EAST recommendations and evaluate their sensitivity and specificity in a pediatric patient population.

This study will help improve the imaging evaluation paradigm for pediatric cervical spine trauma patients.

Egloff, A, Vezina, G, Bulas, D, Yaun, A, Kadom, N, Institutional Review of Imaging Evaluation Paradigm in Pediatric Cervical Spine Trauma.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5013152.html