The definite risks and questionable benefits of liberal pre-hospital spinal immobilisation

Reference

Purvis, T. A., Carlin, B., & Driscoll, P. (2017). The definite risks and questionable benefits of liberal pre-hospital spinal immobilisation. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2017.01.045

Conclusion

The literature supports the Consensus Guidelines but raises the question as to whether they go far enough as there is strong evidence to suggest phSI (pre-hospital spinal immobilisation)  is an inherently harmful procedure without having any proven benefit. These results demonstrate an urgent need for further studies to determine its treatment effect.

Outcomes and characteristics of non-immobilised, spine-injured trauma patients: a systematic review of prehospital selective immobilisation protocols

Reference

McDonald, N. E., Curran-Sills, G., & Thomas, R. E. (2016). Outcomes and characteristics of non-immobilised, spine-injured trauma patients: a systematic review of prehospital selective immobilisation protocols. Emergency Medicine Journal, 33(10), 732–740. http://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2015-204693

Conclusion

Data limitations and study biases suggest caution when interpreting and applying the results of this review. Its findings are consistent with the conclusions of individual studies. The characteristics of injured, non-immobilised patients point to areas of future research to investigate apparent trends.