Spinal motion restriction should be considered for patients who meet validated indications such as the NEXUS criteria or Canadian C-Spine rules. Spinal motion restriction should be considered for patients with plausible blunt mechanism of injury and any of the following:
- Altered level of consciousness or clinical intoxication
- Mid-line spinal pain and/or tenderness
- Focal neurologic signs and /or symptoms (e.g., numbness and/or motor weakness)
- Anatomic deformity of the spine
- Distracting injury