Clinical decision-support only — does not replace attending supervision or institutional policy
NEXUS Chest
Applies to ED patients age 15 or older with blunt trauma within the past 24 hours. If all criteria are absent, the patient is very low risk and chest imaging can usually be avoided.
A positive score means the patient is not in the very low-risk group; it does not mean CT is automatically required. In a well-appearing patient without multi-organ injury, CXR alone may be reasonable. Consider CT when the patient is ill appearing or already needs broader serious-injury workup.
NEXUS Chest Result
VERY LOW RISK — chest imaging can usually be avoided
All 7 NEXUS Chest criteria are absent. Applies to ED blunt-trauma patients age 15 or older within 24 hours of injury. Use with standard trauma evaluation and clinician judgment.
These calculators support clinical decision-making and education. They do not replace physician judgment, institutional protocols, or attending guidance.
Clinical decision-support only — does not replace attending supervision or institutional policy