NEXUS Head CT Instrument (Adult)
NEXUS Head CT rule: any of eight criteria makes head CT indicated after blunt head trauma.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Signs of significant skull fracture
- No
- Scalp hematoma
- No
- Neurologic deficit
- No
- Altered level of alertness
- No
- Abnormal behavior
- No
- Coagulopathy
- No
- Persistent vomiting
- No
- Age ≥ 65 years
- Yes
Result: Head CT indicated — 1 criterion/criteria present: age >= 65.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- Any criterion
- Head CT indicated: skull fracture, scalp hematoma, neuro deficit, altered alertness, abnormal behavior, coagulopathy, persistent vomiting, or age >= 65.
- None
- Low risk; CT can be deferred. A decision rule, not a CT order.
What you enter
- Signs of significant skull fracture
- Scalp hematoma
- Neurologic deficit
- Altered level of alertness
- Abnormal behavior
- Coagulopathy
- Persistent vomiting
- Age ≥ 65 years
How this is calculated
Mower WR, Hoffman JR, Herbert M, et al. Developing a decision instrument to guide computed tomographic imaging of blunt head injury patients. J Trauma. 2005;59(4):954-959. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.