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Pediatric cervical spine injury is rare, and concern about excess radiation exposure from computed tomography (CT) scanning argues in favor of use of conventional radiography to screen for such injuries. Although a controversial approach, some experts advocate for CT as the preferred C-spine screening tool for adults because CT reduces the time to diagnosis and misses fewer injuries than plain films do; data on use of CT for C-spine imaging in children are lacking.
Researchers reviewed a pediatric trauma center’s experience with CT and plain radiography for C-spine imaging in patients younger than 18 years. The center’s protocol allowed clinical clearance of the C-spine. Patients with neck tenderness, neurological deficits, or abnormal Glasg…