Trauma: Cervical Spine Clearance

Clinical Pathways promote evidence-based, safe, and high-value patient care by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by a methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members. 

Clinical Pathway: 

• Trauma: Cervical Spine Clearance Clinical Pathway Algorithm
• Trauma: Cervical Spine Clearance Clinical Pathway Synopsis (provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient in the emergency department or inpatient setting with concern for a cervical spine injury or who has a cervical collar placed  

Special Considerations:  

• If concern for spinal cord injury or the patient presents with focal neurological deficits following a traumatic event, refer to the Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Pathway
• If non-accidental trauma is suspected, refer to the Child Physical Abuse Clinical Pathway 

 Committee members involved in the development: 

• Shahab Abdessalam, MD, FACS, FSSO | Surgery | Committee Chair 
• David Seastrom, MSN, RN | Trauma Services; Program Manager, Trauma | Committee Member 
• Efua Bolouvi, MD | Pediatric Surgery Fellow | Committee Member 
• Elise Wright, DNP, APRN, CPNP AC-PC, CCRN | Surgery | Committee Member 
• Allison Adam, MD | Pediatric Emergency Medicine | Committee Member 
• Aaron Shaw, DO, FAAOS | Orthopedic Surgery | Committee Member 
• Michael Benvenuti, MD | Orthopedic Surgery | Committee Member 
• John Anderson, MD | Orthopedic Surgery | Committee Member 
• David Garcia, MD | Neurosurgery | Committee Member 
• Christian Kaufman, MD, FAANS | Neurosurgery | Committee Member 
• Jessica Wallisch, MD | Critical Care Medicine | Committee Member 
• Yong Han, MD | Critical Care Medicine | Committee Member 
• Sarah Dierking, MSN, RN, CPHQ | Clinical Practice and Quality | Committee Member 

EBP Committee Members: 

• Todd Glenski, MD, MSHA, FASA | Anesthesiology, Evidence Based Practice 
• Kelli Ott, OTD, OTR/L | Evidence Based Practice 

 Publication dates: 

• Finalized date: 8/2026 
• Next expected revision date: 8/2030 

Concerns with content: 

If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu.  

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.