Comparison of a Padded Patient Litter and Long Spine Board for Spinal Immobilization in Air Medical Transport

The long spinal board is the immobilization standard during prehospital transport. The flat surface of the board increases the pressure placed on both the thoracic kyphosis and the sacrum and increases the risk for pressure ulcers. This study compared patient stability and comfort between a padded litter system used in air medical transport and the long spine board.

The study was completed at a large 350-bed Magnet Recognized nonteaching hospital. The hospital owns and operates an air medical transport service. Subjects were secured to a padded litter and a long spinal board with a cervical collar and head blocks and 3 straps. Laser pointers were used to mark neutral at points on the subject's head, sternum, and pelvis. The subject was tilted 45 degrees left and right with movement measured in inches. Comfort level was measured before and after. Paired t-tests were used to detect differences in movement.

No statistical difference in movement was found between devices for the head; however, there was statistically significant greater movement on the padded litter for the sternum and pelvis.

The padded litter did not immobilize as tightly as the long board although the effect of the differences was small.