Redesign of a spine board: Proof of concept evaluation

Sacral pressure ulcers are a significant problem in individuals following spinal cord injury (SCI) and are felt to be in part due to the high interface-pressures applied to the body while lying on a standard spine board (SSB) during emergency transport. The aim of the present study was to assess the interface pressures and sensing areas between the body and the SSB and two proof of concept spine board prototypes (P-1 and P-2). Ten able-bodied individuals were assessed on each board. Interface pressures and sensing area were recorded every minute over 15 minutes. The highest pressure was generated at the sacral-iliac region. The mean of the peak pressures on the SSB, P-1, and P-2 was 288.6, 202.8, and 102.8 mmHg, respectively. The mean of the sensing areas on the SSB, P-1, and P-2 was 78.2, 98.5, and 109.4 in(2), respectively. An analysis using pairwise comparisons test showed the interface pressures were significantly reduced (p = 0.003) and the sensing area was significantly increased (p < 0.001) on P-2 in the sacral-iliac location. This study's procedures can be used when determining critical factors to guide the redesign of an SSB that reduces interface pressure and increases sensing area.