Does Spinal Immobilization in Children Increase Pain?

Although the study authors noted an association between immobilization and adverse effects, methodological weaknesses undermine the study.

Spinal immobilization may itself cause pain that can be confused with symptoms of serious injury and lead to unnecessary imaging studies. In a prospective study of a convenience sample of children who presented to a single emergency department (ED) in St Louis for evaluation of trauma-related injuries, researchers compared pain and rate of cervical spine imaging between 173 patients who arrived in spinal immobilization and 112 who met American College of Surgeons criteria for cervical-spine immobilization but were not immobilized. Immobilization of the spine was defined as use of a cervical collar, a rigid spine board, or both.

The immobilized group was significantly older (median age, 11.3 vs. 7.6 years), more likely to have motor vehicle c…

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP, FIFEM

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP, FIFEM

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices