Moving and handling the infant in a hip spica cast: a systematic review

Aylott, Marion (2007) Moving and handling the infant in a hip spica cast: a systematic review. Journal of Children's and Young People's Nursing, 1 (6), 267-272.

Abstract

Historically, patient handling injury-reduction strategies have been based on tradition and personal experience rather than scientific evidence. There is strong evidence that these approaches are not effective in reducing care-giver injury (Nelson et al, 2006). Manual handling of the infant, child or young person in a hip spica cast has been identified as a high-risk moving and handling activity. Evidence-based approaches are most likely to be clinically effective. Therefore peer-reviewed research which shows the efficacy of an approach may warrant integration into practice, and subsequently reduce safety risks and improve clinical effectiveness. A systematic review was conducted to compare the effectiveness and/or complications of methods used in the practice of moving and handling the infant/child in a ‘wet’ (first 24–48 hours until dry) hip spica cast. Searches were made using text words and subject headings relevant to moving and handling the infant, child or young person in a ‘wet’ hip spica cast. All potentially relevant titles and abstracts identified by the searches were retrieved. The eference lists/bibliographies of each article were reviewed for additional relevant titles, and these were also retrieved. Primary research using quantitative or qualitative methods and published audit data were sought but no studies were found meeting the criteria for inclusion in this review. There is no research-based evidence concerning the manual handling of the infant/child in a hip spica cast. The core of evidence-based practice is to integrate expertise derived from practice with research evidence when making clinical decisions, as successful practice cannot occur with one of these factors in isolation (Sackett et al, 1996). When research in a particular area of practice is deemed unfeasible, alternative evidence must be sought, especially if safety is to be a priority issue.

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