Scoop to conquer

Krell JM, McCoy MS, Sparto PJ, et al. Comparison of the Ferno Scoop Stretcher with the long backboard for spinal immobilization. Prehosp Emerg Care 2006;10:46–51.

Over the past few years the use of a cervical collar and long backboard (LBB) has become the de facto standard of care for prehospital spinal immobilisation and the “gold standard” against which other immobilisation devices are compared. However, the acceptable amount of movement associated with spinal immobilisation on an LBB is unknown and there are risks related to patient movement during the application of the device. A recent study compared movement of the spine during immobilisation and lifting between the Ferno Scoop Stretcher Model 65-EXL (FSS) and the Ferno LBB, and also evaluated each device for comfort and sense of security. The results showed that for spinal immobilisation the FSS was as effective as, if not superior to, the LBB, and that use of the FSS reduced movement during application. Patients felt equally secure on the two devices but reported increased comfort with the FSS. The findings of the research are limited by the use of cooperative healthy, young volunteers …