Cervical bracing after trauma.

Because injudicious movement of the patient with a cervical spine and spinal cord injury can cause additional damage, the cervical spine of the trauma victim suspected of having such an injury must be immobilized at the scene of the accident. A review of the different movements occurring at different levels of the cervical spine indicates that different orthoses--rigid or soft collar, poster brace, cervicothoracic brace, halo appliance--vary in their effectiveness in restricting movement. The semirigid collar, because of its effectiveness in limiting movement and its ease of application, is recommended for immobilizing the cervical spine of a trauma victim.