Several cervical spine braces and orthoses were evaluated for their compatibility with imaging in the MR scanner. Nine such devices were investigated: EXO cervical collar, Philadelphia collar, S.O.M.I. cervical orthosis, Guilford cervical orthosis, modified Guilford cervical orthosis, PMT halo cervical orthosis, modified PMT halo cervical orthosis, Bremer halo system, and Bremer MR-compatible h...

Application of cervical collars may reduce cervical spine movements but render tracheal intubation with a standard laryngoscope difficult if not impossible. We hypothesised that despite the presence of a Philadelphia Patriot cervical collar and with the patient's head taped to the trolley, tracheal intubation would be possible in 50 adult patients using the GlideScope and its dedicated stylet. ...

This case report describes a unique case involving traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis that resulted in nonunion, angulation, and displacement after conservative treatment with a cervical collar, but which was successfully achieved union with halo immobilization and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS). Halo immobilization of a traumatic spondylolisthesis in a 20-year-old patient, that p...

Atlanto-axial subluxation occurs with a frequency varying from 6% to 45% in rheumatoid arthritis. Most patients are treated conservatively with a cervical collar. The effectiveness of different cervical collars in inhibiting anterior atlanto-axial subluxation was tested in 11 patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis. None of the collars had any major influence in inhibiting anterior subluxa...

BACKGROUND Cervical collars are applied to millions of trauma victims with the intent of protecting against secondary spine injuries. Adverse clinical outcomes during the management of trauma patients led to the hypothesis that extrication collars may be harmful in some cases. The literature provides indirect support for this observation. The purpose of this study was to directly evaluate cervi...

Pressure ulcers related to cervical collars are a common difficult-to-manage complication of cervical immobilization in the trauma patient. After many cases of occipital pressure ulcers occurred at our institution, a multidisciplinary task force was formed to look at this issue. The group was to identify causes for this problem and develop a plan to decrease the occurrence of pressure ulcers re...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency of stable and unstable cervical spine fractures after gunshot wounds to the head or neck; to identify potential risk factor(s) for an unstable versus stable cervical spine fracture. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Cervical spine fractures after gunshot wounds to the head and neck are common. Because of the nature of t...

BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the effects of spinal immobilization devices on pulmonary functions. METHODS This study was a cross-over trial in healthy volunteer subjects; 60 volunteers were included. We performed a full spirometry in the supine position, and forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC were recorded in all subjects. Then, Phila...

STANDARDS There is insufficient evidence to support treatment standards. GUIDELINES There is insufficient evidence to support treatment guidelines. OPTIONS All trauma patients with a cervical spinal column injury or with a mechanism of injury having the potential to cause cervical spine injury should be immobilized at the scene and during transport by using one of several available methods....