Improvised vs Standard Cervical Collar to Restrict Spine Movement in the Backcountry Environment.

INTRODUCTION

To compare the effectiveness of a molded fleece jacket with that of a standard cervical collar at limiting movement of the cervical spine in 3 different directions.

METHODS

This is a prospective study using 24 healthy volunteers to measure cervical flexion/extension, rotation, and lateral flexion with both the fleece collar and the standard cervical collar. A hand-held goniometer was used for measurements. The results were then analyzed for the 3 independent movements using a noninferiority test.

RESULTS

The fleece collar was determined to be noninferior at limiting the designated motions. Comfort was greater while wearing the improvised fleece collar.

CONCLUSIONS

Our small study demonstrated that mountain travelers and rescuers may be able to use an improvised fleece jacket collar in place of a standard collar if spine trauma is suspected after a backcountry accident. Further research should examine different types of improvised collars, their ability to remain in place over extended evacuations, and when to apply collars to backcountry patients.