Spinal immobilization

A Solution in Search of a Problem?

In JEMS.com, we read about Lee County, FL adopting a cool new piece of spinal immobilization equipment: With the field trial complete, the team gained the approval from the Lee County Protocol Committee in February 2013. In March 2013, the Lee County Medical Care Council unanimously approved the “XCollar and Discriminate Spinal Immobilization Guideline.” (See Figure 1.) The guideline went ...

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On Pissing Contests and Patient Advocacy

I follow a few EMS forums on various social media sites, but lately I've been commenting less frequently because the signal-to-noise ratio leaves me in despair of the future of our profession. I have to wade through far too many comments from adrenaline junkies, protocol monkeys, booger-eating cretins and fervent disciples of EMS mythology to find the comments of the ...

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The By Gosh and By Gum Club

When I trained retrievers professionally, I used to get a steady stream of business from members of the By Gosh and By Gum Club, whose club motto went something like, “By gosh, it seemed like a good ideer, so by gum, that’s the way I done it.” They were the guys who thought the way to introduce their Lab pup ...

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These Are Your Protocols? How… Quaint.

In the recent mass stabbing at Lone Star College in Harris County, TX, fourteen people were transported to local hospitals by EMS. A blog reader pointed me to the CNN.com story on the event, and the associated photo gallery. There are a couple of video clips, as well. You EMS folks, go look at the photos and video, and come ...

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For You EMS Types…

… there's a pretty good discussion on spinal motion restriction with me, Kyle David Bates, Rogue Medic and Dr. Laurie Romig on the First Few Moments podcast.   Go check it out!

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Spinal Immobilization: The Conclusion

In my post on spinal immobilization, I asked if any of you would collar and board an elderly patient (24 hours post-injury) with clear radiographic evidence of a comminuted C1 fracture and cervical spine tenderness, but no neurological deficits. And to my overwhelming delight, few of you said yes. I think there is a clear difference here between doing what ...

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Spinal Immobilization: You Make The Call

Now, an 80+ minute trip strapped to a spine board isn't the cruelest thing I can think of doing to this man, but the other two possibilities involve nipple clamps and a live ferret. He weighs less than his age, and his chart already includes orders for a Fentanyl patch PRN and gel seat pads for his wheelchair. I don't like the idea of boarding him if I can help it. But we're not talking about what I would do. What would you do?

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Word To Ya’ Mutha, Rogue Medic

When the best evidence you have to support a treatment can best be summed up as "Well, we don't think it causes any further harm," you may lump that treatment in with acupuncture, Reiki, voodoo, crystals or swallowing ground spinal vertebrae diluted to one part per million in distilled water.

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EMS Today: Product Reviews

So, for a guy that no longer believes in spinal immobilization for the vast majority of our patients, I find it rather ironic that I choose a couple of pieces of spinal immobilization equipment for my EMS Today 2011 New Product Showcase:

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Bigfoot, Aliens, and Occult Spinal Injury

Question: What do the above things all have in common? Answer: All of them are things in which some people desperately wish to believe, despite the utter lack of credible evidence of their existence. Now, before you roll your eyes and say, “There goes AD again, making unsupported blanket statements just to make his point,” I will cop to just ...

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