Observational study on diagnosing cervical spine injuries in children after trauma

Pediatric Cervical Spine Clearance: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study

University of Utah · NCT05608460

This study is trying to see if CT scans or regular X-rays are better at finding neck injuries in kids who have had a serious injury.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment15700 (estimated)
Ages0 Years to 17 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Utah (other)
Locations9 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 8 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05608460 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This multicenter observational study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of CT scans and plain films in diagnosing cervical spine injuries in pediatric patients who have experienced blunt trauma. Led by Dr. Katie Russell at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital, the study will assess the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of these imaging techniques. Participants will include children under 18 years old who have undergone cervical spine imaging. The study is funded by the Primary Children's Hospital foundation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children under 18 years old who have suffered blunt trauma and have undergone cervical spine imaging.

Not a fit: Patients with poor quality CT scans from outside facilities or without proper radiology reviews may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could improve the accuracy of diagnosing cervical spine injuries in children, leading to better treatment outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown varying success in using imaging techniques for diagnosing cervical spine injuries, but this specific approach in a pediatric population is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Any participant less than 18 years old after blunt trauma
* Seen by trauma service
* With cervical spine imaging (XR, CT, or MRI)

Exclusion Criteria:

* CT scan from outside facility is poor quality and not repeated (\<63-channel, cuts \>3mm, no reformats, motion artifact)
* No radiology over reads by participating institution

Where this trial is running

Phoenix, Arizona and 8 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Cervical Spine Fracture

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.