Canadian C-Spine Rule (Radiography / Clearance)

For awake, cooperative adults with stable vital signs after blunt trauma (original rule context).

High-risk factors

If any high-risk factor is present, the rule indicates imaging (teaching).

Age 65 years or older Dangerous mechanism (fall from elevation, axial load to head, high-speed MVC, rollover or ejection, bicycle collision, motorized recreational vehicle) Paresthesias in extremities

Low-risk factors for safe assessment (all must be true to “clear” without imaging in the rule’s low-risk limb)

Only answer this section if no high-risk factors are present.

Simple rear-end motor vehicle collision (excluded if pushed into oncoming traffic, rollover, high speed, truck/bus, or commercial vehicle) Sitting position in ED Ambulatory at any time since injury Delayed onset of neck pain (not immediate) Absence of midline cervical spine tenderness Able to actively rotate neck 45° left and right (pain-free rotation teaching endpoint)

Educational tool only—not for diagnosis or treatment decisions.

Canadian C-Spine Rule (Radiography / Clearance)

Result