Can paramedics clear the cervical spine?
Volume 2 · Issue 9
Abstract
Clinical decision rules to allow clinical ‘clearing’ of the cervical spine are widely used in emergency departments. This topic review considers the literature relating to whether paramedics can clinically clear the cervical spine in the prehospital environment. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken which found eight relevant articles for review. Overall, prehospital professionals, when applying the two commonly used in-hospital clinical decision rules, have a similar sensitivity to their in-hospital colleagues.