The Influence of Cervical Spine Angulation on Symptoms Associated With Wearing a Rigid Neck Collar

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Gerontology
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Rigid cervical collars are used post-injury/surgery but can cause adverse effects like pain and pressure sores, especially in older adults.
• Understanding the biomechanical impact of cervical collars on spinal alignment and pain is crucial for patient comfort and care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between cervical spine angulation, rigid neck collar use, and neck pain in young and older healthy adults.
• To determine if changes in cervical spine alignment correlate with reported pain levels after wearing a rigid collar.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the cervical spine were obtained before and after wearing a rigid collar for 1 hour in 20 young and 17 older adults.
• Vertebral angulation was measured using image processing software, and pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale.

Main Results:

• Young adults reported increased pain after collar use (p = 0.001), while older adults showed no significant change in pain.
• No significant correlation was found between changes in cervical spine angles and changes in pain scores in either group.

Conclusions:

• Cervical spine angulation does not correlate with symptoms associated with rigid neck collar use.
• Older adults may be more susceptible to skin-interface pressures from collars due to age-related anatomical changes, such as increased cervical lordosis.