Lovell ME and Evans JH, 1994, UK | 30 healthy volunteers | Observational | Interface pressure | Vacuum stretcher interface pressure was 36.7 mm Hg while the pressure with spinal board was 115.5 mm Hg | Small numbers |
| 7 different support surfaces | | | | |
Main PW and Lovell ME, 1996, UK | 4 healthy volunteers | Observational | Interface pressure | Vacuum splint most comfortable p=<0.001 | Only 4 subjects used in study |
| 7 different support surfaces | | | | |
Johnson DR et al, 1996, USA | 30 paramedic students | PRCT | Degree of immobilisation | No significant difference in immobilisation | Small numbers |
| Collar + vacuum splint v collar + backboard v vacuum splint only v backboard only | | Comfort | Vacuum splint more comfortable p=<0.001 | No trauma patient |
| | | Speed of application | Fast application with vacuum splint p=<0.001 | |
Hamilton RS and Pons PT, 1996, USA | 26 healthy volunteers | PRCT | Degree of immobilisation | Significant increase in immobilisation | Small numbers |
| | | | | No trauma patient included |
| Cervical collar + backboard v backboard v cervical collar + vacuum splint v vacuum splint | | Efficacy and comfort | Efficacy and comfort with vacuum splint p<0.05 | |
Chan D et al, 1996, USA | 37 healthy volunteers | PRCT | Pain | Significant more pain in spinal board group. P<0.001 | Small numbers |
| Neck collar + backboard v neck collar + vacuum mattress | | | | Study on healthy volunteers, no trauma patient |