Journal article
Comparing the Efficacy of Methods for Immobilizing the Thoracic-Lumbar Spine
Air medical journal, Vol.37(3), pp.178-185
05/2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2018.02.002
PMID: 29735231
Abstract
•Movement of the thoracic-lumbar region was measured.•The effects of immobilization methods on movement were evaluated.•The vacuum mattress was more effective than the long spine board.•The long spine board increased lateral bend.
The purpose of this study was to compare the relative efficacy of immobilization systems in limiting thoracic-lumbar movements.
A dynamic simulation system was used to reproduce transport-related shocks and vibration, and involuntary movements of the thoracic-lumbar region were measured using 3 immobilization configurations.
The vacuum mattress and the long spine board were generally more effective than the cot alone in reducing thoracic-lumbar rotation and flexion/extension. However, the vacuum mattress reduced these thoracic-lumbar movements to a greater extent than the long spine board. In addition, the vacuum mattress significantly decreased thoracic-lumbar lateral movement relative to the cot alone under all simulated transport conditions. In contrast, the long spine board allowed greater lateral movement than the cot alone in a number of the simulated transport rides.
Under the study conditions, the vacuum mattress was more effective for limiting involuntary movements of the thoracic-lumbar region than the long spine board. Moreover, the increased lateral bend observed with the long spine board under some conditions suggests it may be inadequate for immobilizing this anatomic region as presently designed. Should emergency medical service providers choose to immobilize patients with suspected injuries of the thoracic-lumbar spine, study results support the use of the vacuum mattress.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Comparing the Efficacy of Methods for Immobilizing the Thoracic-Lumbar Spine
- Creators
- Salam Rahmatalla - Center for Computer-Aided Design, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IAJonathan DeShaw - Center for Computer-Aided Design, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IAJoshua Stilley - Department of Emergency Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IAGerene Denning - Department of Emergency Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IACharles Jennissen - Department of Emergency Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Air medical journal, Vol.37(3), pp.178-185
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.amj.2018.02.002
- PMID
- 29735231
- NLM abbreviation
- Air Med J
- ISSN
- 1067-991X
- eISSN
- 1532-6497
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Grant note
- name: University of Iowa College of Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering Division; name: College of Medicine Emergency Medicine Department
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/2018
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Iowa Technology Institute; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Emergency Medicine; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9983992082202771
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