Are triage tools effective for detecting cervical spine injury in paediatric trauma patients? - A Cochrane Review summary with commentary

Creative Commons License

ÇAPAN N.

NeuroRehabilitation, vol.55, no.1, pp.147-149, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 55 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.3233/nre-246005
  • Journal Name: NeuroRehabilitation
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
  • Page Numbers: pp.147-149
  • Keywords: Cervical spine injury, pediatric trauma, triage tool
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pediatric cervical spine injuries (CSIs) from blunt trauma carry a high risk of neurological damage. Accurate diagnosis is vital for preventing harm and aiding recovery, yet the diagnostic accuracy of clinical decision rules (CDRs) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of triage tools for detecting CSI in pediatric trauma patients. METHODS: A summary of the Cochrane Review by Tavender et al. (2024), with comments from a rehabilitation perspective. RESULTS: Five studies with 21,379 participants assessed seven CDRs. Direct comparisons showed high sensitivity but low specificity across different CDRs. Indirect comparison studies also demonstrated varying sensitivities and specificities. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient evidence exists to determine the best tools for deciding if imaging is necessary for diagnosing potential CSI in children. Better quality studies are needed to assess the accuracy of CDRs for cervical spine clearance in this population.