Journal article
A pediatric cervical spine clearance protocol to reduce radiation exposure in children
The Journal of surgical research, Vol.183(1), pp.341-346
07/01/2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.12.048
PMID: 23357274
Abstract
Background: To minimize radiation exposure in children and reduce resource use, we implemented an age-specific algorithm to evaluate cervical spine injuries at a Level 1 trauma center. The effects of protocol implementation on computed tomography (CT) use in children (<= 10 y) were determined.
Methods: With institutional review board approval, we conducted a retrospective review using the institutional trauma registry. All pediatric patients (<= 10 y) (n = 324) between January 2007 and present were reviewed. We excluded cases in which no imaging or outside imaging was performed. Patients were evaluated by physical exam alone, with the aid of plain radiograms or with cervical spine CT. All patients who required head CT also had CT of cervical spine to C3. We analyzed demographic, injury, and outcome data using STATA to perform chi-square and t-test, and to determine P value. P < 0.05 was defined as significant. We used the WinDose program to calculate the radiation-effective dose used in cervical spine CT.
Results: There were 123 and 124 patients in the pre-protocol and post-protocol groups, respectively. Demographics, GCS, and injury analysis, specifically head-neck and face Injury Severity Scores showed no significant difference between groups. There was a 60% (P < 0.001) decrease in the use of full CTs after protocol implementation. We estimated that the protocol reduced the exposed area by 50% and decreased the radiation dose to the thyroid by > 80%. We extrapolated the combined effect results in a threefold reduction in radiation exposure.
Conclusions: Implementation of a cervical spine protocol led to a significant reduction in radiation exposure among children. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A pediatric cervical spine clearance protocol to reduce radiation exposure in children
- Creators
- Raphael Sun - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsDionne Skeete - University of IowaKristel Wetjen - University of IowaMichele Lilienthal - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsJunlin Liao - University of IowaMark Madsen - University of IowaGabriel Lancaster - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsJoel Shilyansky - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsKent Choi - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of surgical research, Vol.183(1), pp.341-346
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jss.2012.12.048
- PMID
- 23357274
- NLM abbreviation
- J Surg Res
- ISSN
- 0022-4804
- eISSN
- 1095-8673
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 6
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/01/2013
- Academic Unit
- Radiology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Surgery; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984322952502771
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