Log-rolling technique producing unacceptable motion during body position changes in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.

OBJECT: The purpose of the present study was to compare spinal motion generated during log-rolling and kinetic therapy with that generated when using a kinetic treatment table (KTT). The authors' hypothesis was that the KTT would produce less spinal motion while maintaining the benefits of body position changes.
METHODS: Cervical and lumbar instability was created in three fresh, unembalmed cadavers. Electromagnetic sensors were fixed to the C5-6 and T12-L2 segments to measure cervical and lumbar spine segmental motion. Body position changes were performed using the traditional log-roll method and a KTT. Spinal motion was measured during each maneuver. Turning the cadaveric specimens on the KTT bed caused significantly less cervical motion than the log-roll technique as measured in flexion and axial rotation. The log-roll technique caused significantly greater cervical motion during body position changes than turning using the KTT.
CONCLUSIONS: Although the global instability will require surgical stabilization, consideration should be given to initial immobilization on a KTT to decrease the likelihood of secondary injury.