Canadian C Spine Rules

Canadian emergency departments (EDs) annually treat 1.3 million patients who have suffered blunt trauma from falls or motor vehicle collisions and who are at risk for cervical spine (c-spine) injury. Most such cases are alert and stable adults and less than 1% has a c-spine fracture.

The vast majority of these patients are transported to hospital by ambulance and end up in a cervical collar and strapped to a back board.

A group of Ottawa emergency physicians conducted a detailed study of traumatic “neck pain” and their findings were outstanding.  This study resulted in the Canadian C Spine Rules.

This new system is now an international standard as it is incredibly reliable and accurate.  The purpose of the Canadian C Spine Rules is to decide when it is safe to “clear” a patient’s C Spine and when radiography is required.

Prolonged immobilization is often unnecessary and adds considerably to patient discomfort.  Tissue breaks down quickly on the hard boards, even more sore in the elderly.  In attempts to get patient’s off these boards as quickly as possible a group of Ontario hospitals will be training triage nurses to utilize the Canadian C Spine Rules to “clear” your patient’s c spine.

Currently, the following hospitals are participating in the CAHO Canadian C-Spine Rule ARTIC Project: Kingston General Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, Hôpital Montfort, North York General Hospital, St Michael’s Hospital, Sudbury Regional Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and University Health Network.