Prospective evaluation of a critical care pathway for clearance of the cervical spine using the bolster and active range-of-motion flexion/extension techniques.

Background: Clearance of the cervical spine after blunt trauma remains controversial in patients with normal radiologic evaluation.

Methods: Blunt trauma patients with midline boney cervical tenderness and plain films that disclose no abnormalities and computed tomography (CT) scans were entered into a care pathway for spinal clearance using the Bolster or active range-of-motion (AROM) flexion/extension techniques. The quality of films between the two techniques was then compared.