Background
Spine trauma and immobilization
Prehospital care providers, such as paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), utilize various immobilization techniques as treatment and management of patients with definite or potential spinal trauma. Common mechanisms of spinal cord injury include motor vehicle crashes, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian-vehicle collisions, falls, blunt trauma, penetrating trauma, and diving accidents. Full body spinal immobilization is the process by which a person with obvious or suspected spinal trauma is secured to a long backboard (LBB) in a neutral in-line position. The goal of immobilization is to effectively splint the spine in order to prevent movement and additional damage to the vertebral column and spinal cord.
Immobilization equipment
A long backboard, also called a long spine board (LSB), is a reinforced, firm surface with several hand and strap holes along its lateral edges. Other immobilization equipment consists of straps, or cravats, and cervical immobilization devices (CIDs). CIDs, which stabilize the neck and reduce movement, include a soft or rigid cervical spine immobilization collar, also called a c-collar or neck brace. In addition to the c-collar, commercial head supports or substituted items, such as bulky blankets, rolled towels, or foam head blocks, are placed on each side of the head and then secured to the backboard with tape. Straps are used to secure the torso (chest and pelvis) and extremities (arms and legs) to the backboard.
Other strapping techniques
Several different strapping techniques exist for immobilizing the torso so that the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral sections of the spine are supported with spinal motion restriction. One method calls for three separate straps: one at the level of the chest, one at the hip/pelvis, and one across the legs. A revised variation of this technique uses two straps for the chest in a diagonal pattern with an additional strap below the knees. Spider straps are a commercial alternative that uses a single Velcro system with ten points of attachment.
Read more about this topic: Grady Straps
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