Can cardiopulmonary resuscitation injure the back?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed frequently by nurses in general hospitals and often in compromised positions. This may induce injury to the rescuer's spine particularly if the CPR procedure is continued for a considerable time before medical staff arrive. Back pain as an occupational symptom in nurses has received considerable attention in the medical literature, but there is no report on the effect of CPR on back discomfort. This article reports a survey of the CPR experience of nurses in general hospitals and nursing homes and explores the difficulties encountered by nurses during the CPR procedure. A questionnaire was sent to nurses who had CPR experience in three general hospitals and 20 nursing homes through the nursing administrators of the respective units. Analysis of 205 completed questionnaires showed that the duration of the CPR procedure could last up to 27 min. While 86% of the nurses performed CPR on a bed, 70% of them had their legs hanging over the edge of the bed without support and 55% had to turn their head or back to look at the ECG monitor during the procedure. Over 80% experienced back discomfort during or after the CPR procedure and 56% considered their back discomfort was related to the duration of the procedure. Twenty percent of the nurses suffered back injury or prolapsed disc and over 40% of these 'injured' nurses considered their back injury was related to or aggravated by CPR. Results of this survey suggest there is a need to review the support given to nurses to ensure safe administration of the CPR procedure in the general ward environment.