Accuracy of visual determination of neutral position of the immobilized pediatric cervical spine

Background:  The definition of neutral position for the immobilized pediatric cervical spine is not well standardized. In this study, we attempted to determine whether 1) physicians and/or paramedics could accurately assess visually if the cervical spine was in a neutral position, 2) the visual assessments of the observers were in agreement, and 3) a radiographic Cobb angle would correlate with the visual determination.

Methods:  Children presenting to a pediatric emergency department (ED) in full spinal immobilization were randomly selected (convenience sample) for this prospective study. The emergency physician and transporting paramedic independently determined positioning of the cervical spine. A radiologist, blinded to clinical information, determined Cobb angles from radiographs of the immobilized cervical spines.

Results:  Of the 59 children studied, the evaluation of cervical spine position by the physician and paramedic correlated in 88% of the cases. For the 22 children with non-neutral Cobb angles (definition of neutral: between 5 degrees flexion and 5 degrees extension), observers agreed in 100% of the cases. However, in 21 of these cases (95%) the position was observed as neutral.

Conclusions:  Although visual determinations of neutral position of the cervical spine by two observers may correlate, radiographic studies demonstrate that neutral position was not achieved in 37% of the cases.