TY - JOUR
T1 - The long spine board does not reduce lateral motion during transport - A randomized healthy volunteer crossover trial
AU - Wampler, David A.
AU - Pineda, Chloe
AU - Polk, Joan P
AU - Kidd, Emily G
AU - Leboeuf, Dale
AU - Flores, Marti
AU - Shown, Michael W
AU - Kharod, Chetan
AU - Stewart, Ronald M.
AU - Cooley, Craig
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/4/1
Y1 - 2016/4/1
N2 - Objective For thirty years, emergency medical services agencies have emphasized limiting spinal motion during transport of the trauma patient to the emergency department. The long spine board (LSB) has been the mainstay of spinal motion restriction practices, despite the paucity of data to support its use. The purpose of this study was to determine reduction in lateral motion afforded by the LSB in comparison to the stretcher mattress alone. Methods This was a randomized controlled crossover trial where healthy volunteer subjects were randomly assigned to either LSB or stretcher mattress only. All subjects were fitted with a rigid cervical collar, secured to the assigned device (including foam head blocks), and driven on a closed course with prescribed turns at a low speed (< 20 mph). Upon completion, the subjects were then secured to the other device and the course was repeated. Each subject was fitted with 3 graduated-paper disks (head, chest, hip). Lasers were affixed to a scaffold attached to the stretcher bridging over the patient and aimed at the center of the concentric graduations on the disks. During transport, the degree of lateral movement was recorded during each turn. Significance was determined by t test. Results In both groups, the head demonstrated the least motion with 0.46 ± 0.4-cm mattress and 0.97 ± 0.7-cm LSB (P ≤.0001). The chest and hip had lateral movement with chest 1.22 ± 0.9-cm mattress and 2.22 ± 1.4-cm LSB (P ≤.0001), and the hip 1.20 ± 0.9-cm mattress and 1.88 ± 1.2-cm LSB (P ≤.0001), respectively. In addition, lateral movement had a significant direct correlation with body mass index. Conclusion The stretcher mattress significantly reduced lateral movement during transport.
AB - Objective For thirty years, emergency medical services agencies have emphasized limiting spinal motion during transport of the trauma patient to the emergency department. The long spine board (LSB) has been the mainstay of spinal motion restriction practices, despite the paucity of data to support its use. The purpose of this study was to determine reduction in lateral motion afforded by the LSB in comparison to the stretcher mattress alone. Methods This was a randomized controlled crossover trial where healthy volunteer subjects were randomly assigned to either LSB or stretcher mattress only. All subjects were fitted with a rigid cervical collar, secured to the assigned device (including foam head blocks), and driven on a closed course with prescribed turns at a low speed (< 20 mph). Upon completion, the subjects were then secured to the other device and the course was repeated. Each subject was fitted with 3 graduated-paper disks (head, chest, hip). Lasers were affixed to a scaffold attached to the stretcher bridging over the patient and aimed at the center of the concentric graduations on the disks. During transport, the degree of lateral movement was recorded during each turn. Significance was determined by t test. Results In both groups, the head demonstrated the least motion with 0.46 ± 0.4-cm mattress and 0.97 ± 0.7-cm LSB (P ≤.0001). The chest and hip had lateral movement with chest 1.22 ± 0.9-cm mattress and 2.22 ± 1.4-cm LSB (P ≤.0001), and the hip 1.20 ± 0.9-cm mattress and 1.88 ± 1.2-cm LSB (P ≤.0001), respectively. In addition, lateral movement had a significant direct correlation with body mass index. Conclusion The stretcher mattress significantly reduced lateral movement during transport.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.12.078
DO - 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.12.078
M3 - Article
C2 - 26827233
AN - SCOPUS:84955570441
SN - 0735-6757
VL - 34
SP - 717
EP - 721
JO - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
IS - 4
ER -