A bioengineering investigation of cervical collar design and fit: Implications on skin health

Cervical collars restrict cervical spine movement to minimise the risk of spinal cord injury. Collars apply mechanical loading to the skin putting it at risk of skin damage. Indeed, cervical collar-related pressure ulcers are unacceptably prevalent, especially at the occiput, mandibles, and chin. Collar design and fit are often key considerations for prevention.

This comprehensive study evaluated four commercial prehospital and acute care cervical collars. Pressure, microclimate, transepidermal water loss and skin hydration were measured at the interface between the device and the skin. Range of motion restriction was measured to evaluate effective immobilisation. Head, neck, and shoulder morphology was evaluated using three-dimensional scans.

The occiput experienced significantly higher interface pressures than the chin and mandibles for most collar designs. Interface pressure at the occiput was significantly higher for the Stiffneck extrication collar compared to the other collar designs. The Stiffneck collar also provided the most movement restriction, though not significantly more than other designs. Relative humidity at the device skin interface was significantly higher for the Stiffneck and Philadelphia collars corresponding to closed cell foam padding, in contrast to the open cell foams lined with permeable fabric used in the other collars. Collar discomfort correlated with both occipital pressure and skin humidity.

The occiput is at increased risk of cervical collar-related pressure ulcers during supine immobilisation, especially for Stiffneck extrication collars. Lined open-cell foams could be used to minimise skin humidity and increase comfort.