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Table 3 Diagnostic Imaging Questions and Responses

From: Emergency and acute care management of traumatic spinal cord injury: a survey of current practice among senior clinicians across Australia

Survey Question (n = respondents per question)

Response – [n (%)]

11. Do you have high quality CT available 24 h? (n = 55)

• Yes [51 (92.7)]

• No [4 (7.3)]

12. Do you have MRI available 24 h? (n = 55)

• Yes [42 (76.4)]

• No [13 (23.6)]

13. What is the initial imaging technique you choose for patients with suspected spinal injury, with or without paralysis? (n = 46)

• 3-view spine x-ray series [4 (8.7)]

• CT scanning [42 (91.3)]

14. What criteria do you use to ‘clear’ the spine on clinical grounds? (n = 50)

• Canadian C-spine rule [20 (40)]

• NEXUS [18 (36)]

• Other [12 (24%)] (referred to using both the NEXUS and Canadian C-Spine rules; the Dynamic Neck Exam; Alfred Hospital guidelines for C spine clearance)

15. Does MRI influence your early decision-making and management following acute SCI? (n = 46)

• Yes [28 (60.9)]

• No [18 (39.1)]