NEANN Long Spine Board Manual

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BACKBOARDING

THE SITTING PATIENT

The following technique allows the Officers to place a patient in the sitting position onto a Long Spine Board (LSB) with less movement or stress placed on the spinal column when compared to other manoeuvres currently practiced.

Training Requirements:

3 x Staff
1 x Patient
1 x Cervical Collar
1 x Long Spine Board
1 x Blanket
1 x Towel
1 x Hand / Wrist Airsplint



	Step 1 With Officer 1 maintaining Manual In-Line Stabilisation of the head, Officer 2 applies a Cervical Collar to the patient. If possible, Officer 1 maintains Manual In-Line Stabilisation until the patient is properly immobilised onto the LSB, as a Cervical Collar is inadequate to immobilise the cervical spine.^2-5



	Step 2 Officer 2 inserts LSB behind the patient.



	Step 3 Officer 3 places a blanket between the LSB & patient for improved comfort when lying on the LSB.^6-10 Place a towel for padding between the patient’s head and the LSB as required to prevent hyperextension.¹



	Step 4 Officers 2 & 3 kneel on either side of the patient, and holds the LSB by gripping the handholds slightly lower than the patient’s armpit. Officer 2 & 3’s other hands should hold the LSB one handhold above the patient’s shoulders to assist with supporting the LSB whilst lowering it to the ground. Due to the LSBs position, Manual In-Line Stabilisation is not possible whilst lowering the LSB to the ground, so extreme care must be taken during the lowering procedure as a Cervical Collar alone is insufficient to prevent cervical spine movement.^2-5




	Step 5 Slowly the lower the Board backwards until on the ground.



	Step 6 Officer 1 re-establishes Manual In-Line Stabilisation until the patient is properly immobilised to the LSB.^2-5 Finally, slide the patient up the LSB (30 cm at a time) until the patient’s shoulders are correctly aligned with the shoulder markings on the LSB. This is achieved by Officers 2 & 3 place one hand under the patient’s armpits (avoid pushing the patient’s shoulders anteriorly as this moves the patient’s spinal column), and their other hand is placed over the pelvis to slide the patient. To prevent the LSB from sliding with the patient, place one foot on the edge of the LSB.



	Step 7 Finally immobilise the patient to the board for transport.11




^Bibliography

^{^{1. Shriger Annals Of Emergency Medicine 20:878-81 1991 Spinal Immobilisation On A Flat Board: Does It Result In Neutral Position Of The Cervical Spine 2. Cline Journal Of Emergency Medicine 1990 Comparison Of Rigid Immobilisation Collars 3. Cline Journal Of Trauma 25:649-653 1985 A Comparison Of Methods Of Cervical Spine Immobilisation Used In Patient Extrication And Transport 4. Graziano Annals Of Emergency Medicine October 1987 Radiological Comparison Of Prehospital Cervical Immobilisation Methods 5. Podolsky Journal Of Trauma Efficacy Of Cervical Spine Immobilisation Methods 6. Gianluca Del Rossi Journal Of Atheletic Training September 2003 38 (3): 204 - 208 A Comparison Of Spine Board Transfer Techniques And The Effects Of Training On Performance 7. Walton R, DeSalvo JF, Ernst AA, Shahane A. Acad Emerg Med 1995 Aug;2(8):725- Padded vs unpadded spine board for cervical spine immobilization. 8. Haus wald M, Hsu M, Stockoff C. Prehosp Emerg Care 2000 Jul-Sep;4(3):250-2 Maximizing comfort and minimizing ischemia: a comparison of four methods of spinal immobilization. 9. Cordell WH, Hollingsworth JC, Olinger ML, Stroman SJ, Nelson DR. Ann Emerg Med 1995 Jul;26(1):31-6 Pain and tissue-interface pressures during spine-board immobilization. 10. Hann www.neann.com Does proper padding reduce pain on Long Spine Boards 11. Victorian Ministerial Task Force on Trauma Review Of Trauma And Emergency Services Report 1999}}

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