The Incidence of False Negative Initial Cervical Spine Radiographs for Patients Admitted to a Level-I Trauma Center
Academic Emergency Medicine, 05/01/2003
Conclusion: Plain radiography fails to reveal C-spine fracture or dislocation in approximately 15% of patients with proven injury. C-spine injury cannot be excluded by plain film in a substantial number of patients. Physicians should consider ordering C-spine CTs on patients unable to be cleared by other means



