[First aid and transport in injuries of the spine]

Prognosis of lesions of the spine and spinal cord has greatly improved in recent years. It depends significantly and decisively on early recognition of such lesions and can be improved further by on-target immediate or early measures. Especially after traffic accidents, every unconscious person must be assumed to have suffered an injury of the spine until definite proof to the contrary. Appropriate measures must therefore be taken during rescue and transportation.