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Prehospital clearance of the cervical spine: does it need to be a pain in the neck?

Prehospital clearance of the cervical spine: does it need to be a pain in the neck?
Prehospital clearance of the cervical spine: does it need to be a pain in the neck?
Prehospital cervical spine (c-spine) immobilisation is common, despite c-spine injury being relatively rare. Unnecessary immobilisation results in a significant burden on limited prehospital and emergency department (ED) resources. This study aimed to determine whether the incidence of unnecessary c-spine immobilisation by ambulance personnel could be safely reduced through the implementation of an evidence-based algorithm. Following a training programme, complete forms on 103 patients were identified during the audit period, of which 69 (67%) patients had their c-spines cleared at scene. Of these, 60 (87%) were discharged at scene, with no clinical adverse events reported, and 9 (13%) were taken to the local ED with non-distracting minor injuries, all being discharged home the same day. 34 (33%) patients could not have their c-spines safely cleared at scene according to the algorithm. Of these, 4 (12%) patients self-discharged at scene and 30 (88%) were conveyed to an ED as per the normal procedure. C-spine clearance at scene by ambulance personnel may have positive impacts on patient care, efficient use of resources and cost to healthcare organisations.
cervical spine, emergency department
1472-0205
501-503
Armstrong, B.P.
4c97ba2b-ee7b-42f3-a24d-2cad61372c7f
Simpson, H.K.
369207f8-0c5a-4c61-8ef3-d08bf6f2c4cb
Crouch, R.
7f98a42e-ee34-4520-ab33-83cd3acf05b7
Deakin, C.D.
83906241-b698-496f-9853-41333a19ac1d
Armstrong, B.P.
4c97ba2b-ee7b-42f3-a24d-2cad61372c7f
Simpson, H.K.
369207f8-0c5a-4c61-8ef3-d08bf6f2c4cb
Crouch, R.
7f98a42e-ee34-4520-ab33-83cd3acf05b7
Deakin, C.D.
83906241-b698-496f-9853-41333a19ac1d

Armstrong, B.P., Simpson, H.K., Crouch, R. and Deakin, C.D. (2007) Prehospital clearance of the cervical spine: does it need to be a pain in the neck? Emergency Medicine Journal, 24 (7), 501-503. (doi:10.1136/emj.2006.041897).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Prehospital cervical spine (c-spine) immobilisation is common, despite c-spine injury being relatively rare. Unnecessary immobilisation results in a significant burden on limited prehospital and emergency department (ED) resources. This study aimed to determine whether the incidence of unnecessary c-spine immobilisation by ambulance personnel could be safely reduced through the implementation of an evidence-based algorithm. Following a training programme, complete forms on 103 patients were identified during the audit period, of which 69 (67%) patients had their c-spines cleared at scene. Of these, 60 (87%) were discharged at scene, with no clinical adverse events reported, and 9 (13%) were taken to the local ED with non-distracting minor injuries, all being discharged home the same day. 34 (33%) patients could not have their c-spines safely cleared at scene according to the algorithm. Of these, 4 (12%) patients self-discharged at scene and 30 (88%) were conveyed to an ED as per the normal procedure. C-spine clearance at scene by ambulance personnel may have positive impacts on patient care, efficient use of resources and cost to healthcare organisations.

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More information

Published date: July 2007
Keywords: cervical spine, emergency department

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 46491
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/46491
ISSN: 1472-0205
PURE UUID: 1b45e0d6-36db-47e2-a78e-0ec06b5c08fc

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 03 Jul 2007
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 09:24

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Contributors

Author: B.P. Armstrong
Author: H.K. Simpson
Author: R. Crouch
Author: C.D. Deakin

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