EMS Management of Patients with Potential Spinal Injury

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