M Kreinest1,2, S Goller1,2, B Gliwitzky2, P A Grützner1, M Küffer3, D Häske2,4, V Papathanassiou5, M Münzberg6,7. 1. Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany. 2. PHTLS Europe Research Group, Offenbach/Queich, Germany. 3. S2-Statistics Services, Berlin, Germany. 4. Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. 5. Deutsche Hochschule für Prävention und Gesundheitsmanagement, University of Applied Sciences, Saarbrücken, Germany. 6. Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany. matthias.muenzberg@bgu-ludwigshafen.de. 7. PHTLS Europe Research Group, Offenbach/Queich, Germany. matthias.muenzberg@bgu-ludwigshafen.de.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Spinal immobilization is a standard procedure in emergency medicine. Increasing awareness of complications associated with immobilization of trauma patients leads to controversial discussions in the literature. Current guidelines require to include considerations of accident mechanism, an assessment of the patient's condition and an examination of the spine in the decision-making process if immobilization of the spine should be performed. This requires sound knowledge of assessing these parameters. The aim of the current study is to analyze German paramedics' subjective uncertainty in terms of their prehospital assessment and treatment of patients suffering from spine injuries. METHODS: Over a period of 17 months participants in a trauma course were asked to complete a standardized anonymous questionnaire about subjective uncertainty of prehospital assessment and management of spinal trauma before participation in that course. Questions about the frequency of application of different immobilization tools and skills training on spinal immobilization were also asked. RESULTS: A total of 465 paramedics were surveyed. The participants did not indicate any uncertainty about the prehospital diagnosis and treatment of spinal injuries. The feeling of confidence was significantly greater in participants who had already attended another course on structured trauma care before. The participants agreed with the statements that standardized algorithms facilitate teamwork and that there is a need for a protocol for the prehospital treatment of spinal injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Paramedics do not feel uncertain about the prehospital assessment and treatment of spinal injuries. The feeling of confidence in participants who had already attended a course on the treatment of trauma patients before was significantly higher.
PURPOSE: Spinal immobilization is a standard procedure in emergency medicine. Increasing awareness of complications associated with immobilization of traumapatients leads to controversial discussions in the literature. Current guidelines require to include considerations of accident mechanism, an assessment of the patient's condition and an examination of the spine in the decision-making process if immobilization of the spine should be performed. This requires sound knowledge of assessing these parameters. The aim of the current study is to analyze German paramedics' subjective uncertainty in terms of their prehospital assessment and treatment of patients suffering from spine injuries. METHODS: Over a period of 17 months participants in a trauma course were asked to complete a standardized anonymous questionnaire about subjective uncertainty of prehospital assessment and management of spinal trauma before participation in that course. Questions about the frequency of application of different immobilization tools and skills training on spinal immobilization were also asked. RESULTS: A total of 465 paramedics were surveyed. The participants did not indicate any uncertainty about the prehospital diagnosis and treatment of spinal injuries. The feeling of confidence was significantly greater in participants who had already attended another course on structured trauma care before. The participants agreed with the statements that standardized algorithms facilitate teamwork and that there is a need for a protocol for the prehospital treatment of spinal injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Paramedics do not feel uncertain about the prehospital assessment and treatment of spinal injuries. The feeling of confidence in participants who had already attended a course on the treatment of traumapatients before was significantly higher.
Authors: Julian T Mulcaster; Joanna Mills; Orlando R Hung; Kirk MacQuarrie; J Adam Law; Saul Pytka; David Imrie; Chris Field Journal: Anesthesiology Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 7.892
Authors: Nicholas Theodore; Mark N Hadley; Bizhan Aarabi; Sanjay S Dhall; Daniel E Gelb; R John Hurlbert; Curtis J Rozzelle; Timothy C Ryken; Beverly C Walters Journal: Neurosurgery Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 4.654
Authors: R M Domeier; R W Evans; R A Swor; J B Hancock; W Fales; J Krohmer; S M Frederiksen; M A Shork Journal: Prehosp Emerg Care Date: 1999 Oct-Dec Impact factor: 3.077
Authors: Philip C Nolte; Davut D Uzun; Shiyao Liao; Matthias Kuch; Paul A Grützner; Matthias Münzberg; Michael Kreinest Journal: Unfallchirurg Date: 2020-04 Impact factor: 1.000