STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the amount of occipital padding required to achieve neutral position of the cervical spine when a patient is immobilized on a flat backboard. Neutral position was defined as the normal anatomic position of the head and torso that one assumes when standing looking straight ahead. DESIGN: Descriptive with hypothesis testing of selected descriptive elements. SETTING: University campus and hospital. SUBJECTS: One hundred healthy young adults with no history of back disease. INTERVENTIONS: Volunteers were measured in standing and supine positions. MEASUREMENTS: Occipital offset; height; weight; and head, neck, and chest circumferences were measured for each subject. MAIN RESULTS: The amount of occipital offset required to achieve neutral position varied from 0 to 3.75 in. (mean, 1.5 in.). Mean occipital offset for men (1.67 in.) was significantly greater than that for women (1.31 in.) Easily obtained body measurements did not accurately predict occipital offset. CONCLUSION: Immobilization on a flat backboard would place 98% of our study subjects in relative cervical extension. Occipital padding would place a greater percentage of patients in neutral position and increase patient comfort during transport.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the amount of occipital padding required to achieve neutral position of the cervical spine when a patient is immobilized on a flat backboard. Neutral position was defined as the normal anatomic position of the head and torso that one assumes when standing looking straight ahead. DESIGN: Descriptive with hypothesis testing of selected descriptive elements. SETTING: University campus and hospital. SUBJECTS: One hundred healthy young adults with no history of back disease. INTERVENTIONS: Volunteers were measured in standing and supine positions. MEASUREMENTS: Occipital offset; height; weight; and head, neck, and chest circumferences were measured for each subject. MAIN RESULTS: The amount of occipital offset required to achieve neutral position varied from 0 to 3.75 in. (mean, 1.5 in.). Mean occipital offset for men (1.67 in.) was significantly greater than that for women (1.31 in.) Easily obtained body measurements did not accurately predict occipital offset. CONCLUSION: Immobilization on a flat backboard would place 98% of our study subjects in relative cervical extension. Occipital padding would place a greater percentage of patients in neutral position and increase patient comfort during transport.
Authors: Ryan T Tierney; Catherine Maldjian; Carl G Mattacola; Stephen J Straub; Michael R Sitler Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2002-06 Impact factor: 2.860
Authors: C Schöneberg; B Schweiger; B Hussmann; M D Kauther; S Lendemans; C Waydhas Journal: Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg Date: 2013-05-09 Impact factor: 3.693
Authors: Henry Ahn; Jeffrey Singh; Avery Nathens; Russell D MacDonald; Andrew Travers; John Tallon; Michael G Fehlings; Albert Yee Journal: J Neurotrauma Date: 2010-06-16 Impact factor: 5.269
Authors: Bradley J Hindman; Robert P From; Ricardo B Fontes; Vincent C Traynelis; Michael M Todd; M Bridget Zimmerman; Christian M Puttlitz; Brandon G Santoni Journal: Anesthesiology Date: 2015-11 Impact factor: 7.892
Authors: Michael Higgins; Ryan T Tierney; Jeffrey B Driban; Steven Edell; Randall Watkins Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2010 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.860