A radiographic comparison of prehospital cervical immobilization methods

Three methods of prehospital cervical immobilization were studied radiographically and compared to the short board technique (SBT). The methods were California Stif-Neck Immobilizing Collar (CSC), Kendrick Extrication Device (KED), and Extrication Plus-One (XP-One). Forty-five volunteers were immobilized in the short board (SB) and one of the test devices studied. Cervical movement in the sagittal and frontal planes was measured radiographically. Movement in the horizontal plane was measured directly. Two-tailed, paired t test analysis was performed comparing test devices to the SBT. The SBT proved to be significantly better (P less than .05) in the following comparisons: the CSC in extension and lateral bending; the KED in lateral bending; and the XP-One in extension. We confirm the SBT as the standard of comparison against which newer prehospital devices can be compared objectively. Of the three devices compared against the SBT, the factory-fabricated short board devices (KED and XP-One) provided the greatest degree of immobilization, in addition to logistical advantages over the SBT.