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Long Backboard versus Vacuum Mattress Splint to Immobilize Whole Spine in Trauma Victims in the Field: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2013

Babak Mahshidfar ,
Mani Mofidi ,
Ali-Reza Yari  and
Saied Mehrsorosh
Babak Mahshidfar
Affiliation:
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Mani Mofidi*
Affiliation:
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Ali-Reza Yari
Affiliation:
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Saied Mehrsorosh
Affiliation:
Tehran Emergency Medical Service System, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
*
Correspondence: Mani Mofidi, MD Tehran University of Medical Sciences Rasoul Akram Hospital, Emergency Department Sattarkhan Ave, Nyaiesh St. Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran E-mail m-mofidi@sina.tums.ac.ir
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Abstract

Introduction

Patients with possible spinal injury must be immobilized properly during transport to medical facilities. The aim of this research was comparing spinal immobilization using a long backboard (LBB) with using a vacuum mattress splint (VMS) in trauma victims transported by an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.

Methods

In this randomized clinical trial, 60 trauma victims with possible spinal trauma were divided to two groups, each group immobilized with one of the two instruments. Speed and ease of application, immobilization rate, and the patients’ comfort were recorded.

Results

In this survey, LBB was faster to apply: 211.66 (SD = 28.53) seconds vs 654.00 (SD = 16.61) seconds. Various measures of immobilization were better by LBB. Also, LBB offered a significant improvement in comfort over a VMS for the patient with possible spinal injury. All of the results were statistically significant.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that immobilization using LBB was easier, faster, and more comfortable for the patient, and provided additional decrease in spinal movement when compared with a VMS.

MahshidfarB, MofidiM, YariA, MehrsoroshS. Long Backboard versus Vacuum Mattress Splint to Immobilize Whole Spine in Trauma Victims in the Field: a Randomized Clinical Trial. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(5):1-4.

Keywords

immobilizationlong backboardprehospitaltraumavacuum mattress splint
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 5 , October 2013 , pp. 462 - 465
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2013 

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