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Spinal Immobilization

D. Martin trauma-list@trauma.org
Sat, 2 Feb 2002 09:48:54 -0500 

The thing that really bothers me about the whole spinal immobilization issue
is that right now it's done without regards to assessment.  It's like giving
everyone over the age of 60 ASA and NTG because they "might be having a
silent MI". Everything I've read on the subject to date shows that there are
no documented incidents where patient handling has exacerbated or caused a
cord injury--even with the presence of "unstable" fractures. Additionally
longboards can drop O2 sats and increase pain, thus interfering with an ED
assessment.

Honestly, at this point I don't use KEDs or shortboard and haven't used one
in probably 7 years. They waste scene time and I've never seen someone who
could put one on with out moving the patient as much or more than they would
if they just pulled the patient right out onto a longboard. I view them as
the next PASG.

Doug Martin, RP
Frisbie Hospital EMS
Rochester, NH USA