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Review
. 2025 Feb;128(2):75-80.
doi: 10.1007/s00113-024-01520-3. Epub 2025 Jan 6.

[Which diagnostic tests are indicated in the emergency department after trauma to the cervical spine?]

[Article in German]
Oliver Riesenbeck  1 , Michael J Raschke  2
Affiliations
Review

[Which diagnostic tests are indicated in the emergency department after trauma to the cervical spine?]

[Article in German]
Oliver Riesenbeck et al. Unfallchirurgie (Heidelb). 2025 Feb.

Abstract
in English, German

Injuries to the cervical spine are a diagnostic challenge as, although they are rare in relation to the overall population, they should not be overlooked under any circumstances. This article presents the diagnostic procedure in the emergency department, starting with the patient's medical history and subsequently clinical and neurological examinations. As a result, the clinical decision tools national emergency X‑radiography utilization study (NEXUS) criteria and the Canadian C‑spine rule (CCR) are discussed. Finally, the current literature is reviewed considering the diagnostic examination options, taking the clinically relevant key questions into account.

Verletzungen der Halswirbelsäule (HWS) sind eine diagnostische Herausforderung, da sie, bezogen auf die Gesamtbevölkerung, zwar selten sind, jedoch keinesfalls übersehen werden dürfen. Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt das diagnostische Vorgehen in der Notaufnahme, beginnend bei Anamnese sowie klinischer und orientierender neurologischer Untersuchung, dar. Hieraus resultierend werden die klinischen Entscheidungshilfen „Kriterien der National Emergency X‑Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS)“ und „Canadian C‑Spine Rule (CCR)“ diskutiert. Anschließend erfolgt die Einordnung der diagnostischen Untersuchungsmöglichkeiten in die aktuelle Literatur unter Berücksichtigung der klinisch relevanten Leitfragen.

Keywords: Clinical decision-making; Diagnostic imaging; Neck injuries; Spinal cord injury; Spinal injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

Einhaltung ethischer Richtlinien. Interessenkonflikt: O. Riesenbeck und M.J. Raschke geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht. Für diesen Beitrag wurden von den Autor/-innen keine Studien an Menschen oder Tieren durchgeführt. Für die aufgeführten Studien gelten die jeweils dort angegebenen ethischen Richtlinien.

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References

Literatur

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