{
  "abstract": "Background In pediatric patients presenting after blunt trauma, the incidence of clinically significant cervical spine injury (CSI) is approximately 1%. Although multidetector CT (MDCT) is widely accepted for cervical spine clearance in adults, its utility in children remains uncertain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity of MDCT in identifying clinically significant CSI in pediatric patients, stratified by age groups: adolescents (12 years to 17 years) and children (0 years to 11 years).Methods We designed a national, multicenter, prospective observational study to assess the diagnostic performance of MDCT in detecting clinically significant CSI in pediatric trauma patients. Data are being collected from participating centers on imaging findings, clinical outcomes, and the presence of confirmed CSIs after blunt trauma. The analysis plan includes stratification by age group and calculation of sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of MDCT for CSI.Results This abstract outlines the background, methodology, and analytical framework of the study. Data collection and analysis are ongoing. This study represents the largest known cohort of pediatric patients undergoing cervical spine imaging after blunt trauma and is the first prospective study of its kind focused exclusively on this population.Conclusions This study will provide critical data to inform guidelines for pediatric cervical spine clearance after blunt trauma. By evaluating the sensitivity of MDCT in detecting clinically significant CSI, the findings aim to support evidence-based imaging strategies and improve the safety and efficiency of pediatric trauma care.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA"
      ],
      "name": "R. Scott Eldredge"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Anastasia Morgan Kahan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cincinatti Children's Hospital, Cincinatti, Ohio, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Benjamin E Padilla"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, California, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Utsav M Patwardhan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Angela P Presson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Kezlyn Larsen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cincinatti Children's Hospital, Cincinatti, Ohio, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Justin H Lee"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cincinatti Children's Hospital, Cincinatti, Ohio, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Daniel J Ostlie"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, Oakland, California, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Aaron R Jensen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, Oakland, California, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Caroline G Melhado"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, California, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Romeo C Ignacio"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Surgery, STA, Stanford, California, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Stephanie D Chao"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Neurosurgery, Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Vijay M Ravindra"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Robert Swendiman"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Rajiv R Iyer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Neurosurgery, Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Douglas L Brockmeyer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Lorraine I Kelley-Quon"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pediatric Surgery, MultiCare Health System, Tacoma, Washington, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Mauricio A Escobar"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of General Surgery, University of Florida Health Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Brian K Yorkgitis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Kenji Inaba"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Katie W Russell"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [],
      "name": "Western Pediatric Cervical Spine Study"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Western pediatric cervical spine study: an observational prospective Western Pediatric Surgery Research Consortium and Western Trauma Association multicenter study protocol",
  "uid": "6ec36b8c-81e2-59b4-98a8-b368f26c64ad"
}