[Role of the RUANS recommendation protocol for decision-making in patients with acute traumatic cervical spine...

Since 2013, neurosurgeons have been guided by the RUANS recommendation protocol for surgical management of patients with acute cervical spine fractures in Russia. However, there are no studies devoted to interobserver agreement between specialists with different experience.

To evaluate the role of the RUANS recommendation protocol for decision-making in patients with acute traumatic cervical spine injuries.

Twenty-one neurosurgeons from 5 hospitals estimated data of 64 patients with cervical spine fractures. The study implied choosing an option for patient treatment (conservative therapy; anterior, posterior and circular fusion surgery). Two evaluations of CT and MR scans with an interval of 1.5 months were conducted. In the main group (9/21), neurosurgeons strictly followed the RUANS recommendation protocol during re-evaluation. In the control group (12/21), neurosurgeons analysed data considering their own knowledge and experience. Interobserver agreement was evaluated using a Fleiss' or Cohen's Kappa (K).

Among the junior neurosurgeons (up to 5 years of experience), change in consent level during re-evaluation was greater in the main group (∆K=0.25) compared to the control group (∆K= -0.17). Among neurosurgeons with medium level of experience (5-10 years), ∆K was 0.19 in the main group and -0.15 in the control group. Among experienced neurosurgeons (over 10 years of experience), the main group showed an increase in Kappa (∆K=0.24), while level of consent remained almost the same in the control group (∆K=0.05).

The RUANS recommendation protocol can significantly improve interobserver agreement between specialists with various levels of experience regarding management of acute cervical spine injury.