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- D Vickery.
- Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, UK. davidvickery@yahoo.com
- Emerg Med J. 2001 Jan 1;18(1):51-4.
ObjectivesFor pre-hospital spinal immobilisation the spinal board is the established gold standard. There are concerns that its subsequent use in hospital may adversely affect patient outcome. This review examines the effect of prolonged patient immobilisation on the spinal board.MethodsA database search of the literature and review of relevant trauma texts.ResultsComplications associated with the use of the spinal board were found in five clinically relevant categories: pressure sore development; inadequacies of spinal immobilisation and support; pain and discomfort; respiratory compromise; and quality of radiological imaging.ConclusionThe spinal board should be removed in all patients soon after arrival in accident and emergency departments, ideally after the primary survey and resuscitation phases.
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