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Minimizing movement of the cervical spine (C-spine) during emergency intubation is a core principle in the care of trauma patients. To compare C-spine movement with video versus standard laryngoscopy, researchers in Germany randomized 60 patients undergoing elective surgery to intubation with the GlideScope or Macintosh laryngoscope. Patients' spines were not secured, but anesthesiologists were asked to minimize C-spine movement. Markers were placed on patients' heads and necks and their movement was video-recorded; investigators analyzing the videos were blinded to the device being used.
The median angles of neck extension from baseline were 11.8° in the GlideScope group and 14.3° in the Macintosh group. Maximum angles were 19.2° and 29.3°,…