Original contributionSpinal immobilization on a flat backboard: Does it result in neutral position of the cervical spine?
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Cited by (56)
Preservation of Spinal Cord Function
2021, Perioperative Medicine: Managing for Outcome, Second EditionComparison of the C-MAC video laryngoscope to a flexible fiberoptic scope for intubation with cervical spine immobilization
2016, Journal of Clinical AnesthesiaSpinal immobilisaton in pre-hospital and emergency care: A systematic review of the literature
2015, Australasian Emergency Nursing JournalCitation Excerpt :One study produced conflicting results with increases in some movements and decreases in others33 and one study opposed spinal immobilisation reporting increased separation between C1 and C2 when spinal immobilisation was in place.20 Five studies examined the effect of spinal immobilisation on optimal spinal positioning or alignment (Table 5).36–40 One study was LOE IV, conducted in injured children requiring cervical spine X-rays40 and the remainder were extrapolated data from adult volunteers.36–39
Pediatric patient safety in emergency medical services
2014, Clinical Pediatric Emergency MedicineCitation Excerpt :For those children who are neurologically normal and ambulatory, and in whom cervical spine injury is a consideration, transportation on a mattress gurney with safety straps is acceptable. When used, the rigid long board can both increase a child's risk of developing decubitus ulcers and force their neck into flexion due to their disproportionately large head relative to their torso.32-42 Thus, care should be taken to provide padding beneath the child to both relieve pressure from contact areas and bring the spine and the child's airway into anatomical alignment.
Assessing attitudes toward spinal immobilization
2013, Journal of Emergency MedicineCitation Excerpt :The culmination of research in this area has undermined the advantages of spinal immobilization (19). Literature has also addressed the use of backboard padding, showing that immobilization without padding may result in cervical extension instead of a neutral position (20,21). Padding has been shown to reduce patient discomfort and interface pressure, which could lower the occurrence of pressure necrosis (22,23).
Is sub-occipital padding necessary to maintain optimal alignment of the unstable spine in the prehospital setting? A preliminary report
2013, Journal of Emergency MedicineCitation Excerpt :However, when a patient is placed in the supine position, the body habitus alters the cervical-thoracic angle and, as a result, it is believed that, in adults, padding beneath the head is necessary to obtain the so-called “neutral position” (5–7). Schriger et al. recommended an average of almost 4 cm (1.5 inches) of padding (7). McSwain et al. stated that more than 80% of adults require 1.3–5.1 cm (0.5–2.0 inches) of padding to achieve the neutral position (6).