When should you use a backboard?

When should you use a backboard?

The guidelines state that patients who may be appropriate for backboard immobilization include those with:

1. Signs of neurologic compromise.
2. Evidence of spinal injury.
3. A high risk injury with an inability to properly evaluate the patient (i.e. intoxicated, altered mental status, presence of distracting injuries)

Do spine boards work?

There is no evidence that the long spine board is safe. There is evidence that the long spine board may increase the rate of disability – exactly the opposite of what we want to do. This study showed that the patients with spinal injuries were twice as likely to become disabled with the use of the long spine board.

What is the purpose of spine boarding?

A spinal board, is a patient handling device used primarily in pre-hospital trauma care. It is designed to provide rigid support during movement of a person with suspected spinal or limb injuries.

Are spine boards safe?

They are often uncomfortable for the patient, they can cause pressure ulcers to develop on pressure points, lying in the supine position can make respirations more difficult for some patients and head injured patients often become more agitated when positioned on a spine board.

When should you not backboard a patient?

Those who do not require a backboard include those with:

• Normal level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Score 15)
• No spine tenderness or anatomic abnormality.
• No neurologic findings or complaints.
• No distracting injury.
• No intoxication.

When immobilizing a patient on a spine board which part of the body is the first to be strapped?

the patient’s body should be secured to the device. Typically, on a long spine board, the torso is secured with straps first, then the abdomen or waist and then the lower body.

When spine Boarding what is the first thing that should be immobilized?

Center the patient on the board while maintaining cervical alignment. Secure the upper torso with straps first. Secure the chest, pelvis, and upper legs with straps. Secure the patient’s head by using a commercial immobilization device or rolled towels.

Should EMS use backboards?

Long backboards are commonly used to attempt to provide rigid spinal immobilization among EMS trauma patients. However, the benefit of long backboards is largely unproven. The long backboard can induce pain, patient agitation, and respiratory compromise.

Do Emts still use backboards?

No Evidence Supports Use. The once-automatic use of long backboards to reduce spinal motion in patients transported by ambulance is now limited to a few patients for whom the equipment might provide some care.

Is a vacuum mattress more comfortable than a backboard?

Using the NRS the vacuum mattress (mean score=1.88) was significantly more comfortable than the backboard (mean score=5.22) (p<0.01). Conclusions: In the measured planes the vacuum mattress provides significantly superior stability and comfort than a backboard.

Is a vacuum mattress a suitable alternative to a long spinal board?

A large randomised trial in trauma patients is required. The vacuum mattress provide comparable spinal immobilisation to the long spinal board with increased comfort. Lovell ME, Evans JH. A comparison of the spinal board and the vacuum stretcher, spinal stability and interface pressure.

How much does the backboard move the body?

Results: The mean body movements in the head up position (23.3 v 6.66 mm), head down (40.89 v 8.33mm), and lateral tilt (18.33 v 4.26mm) were significantly greater on the backboard than on the vacuum mattress (p<0.01 for all planes of movement).

Should we use vacuum mattresses in the paramedic environment?

This may be a problem in the mountain rescue environment with rough rocky surfaces leading to puncture of the vacuum mattress. In contrast the paramedic environment may be less arduous but the everyday use of the vacuum mattress may lead to wear and tear. If the two systems were combined then perhaps a safer splint would develop.