TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of hair and clothing on neck immobilization using a cervical collar
AU - Chi, Chih Hsien
AU - Wu, Fong Gong
AU - Tsai, Shu Hui
AU - Wang, Chun Hsiang
AU - Stern, Susan A.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by grants from the Taiwan National Science Council, Taipei, Taiwan (NSC 91-2329-B-006-007) and the National Cheng Kung University Hospital.
Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - An important step during spine immobilization is application of a cervical collar. Clothing or hair covering the neck may impinge on this process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of clothing and hair covering the neck on immobilization using a cervical collar. Study participants were 18 female volunteers with long hair aged 20 to 28 years. Cervical range of motion (ROM) was tested in 6 directions (flexion, extension, right and left lateral bending, right and left axial rotation) using a cervical ROM (CROM) device. After measuring unrestricted ROM (no cervical collar), a 1-piece rigid cervical collar was placed the neck (1) covered by hair and clothing; (2) covered by clothing; (3) covered by hair; or (4) uncovered. Range of motion was retested under all 4 conditions. Data were compared using crossover-design analysis of variance (P < .05 statistically significant). Range of motion in all directions was significantly restricted by cervical collar placement under all conditions. Unrestricted ROM in all directions ranged from 41.50° (7.25°) to 70.76° (15.4°). In contrast, ROM with a cervical collar under the 4 conditions in all directions ranged from 10.80° (5.10°) to 18.81° (7.37°). We were unable to detect any significant differences in ROM between the 4 conditions. Our data suggest that long hair and clothing, which cover the neck, do not alter the effectiveness of cervical collar immobilization as measured by the cervical ROM device.
AB - An important step during spine immobilization is application of a cervical collar. Clothing or hair covering the neck may impinge on this process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of clothing and hair covering the neck on immobilization using a cervical collar. Study participants were 18 female volunteers with long hair aged 20 to 28 years. Cervical range of motion (ROM) was tested in 6 directions (flexion, extension, right and left lateral bending, right and left axial rotation) using a cervical ROM (CROM) device. After measuring unrestricted ROM (no cervical collar), a 1-piece rigid cervical collar was placed the neck (1) covered by hair and clothing; (2) covered by clothing; (3) covered by hair; or (4) uncovered. Range of motion was retested under all 4 conditions. Data were compared using crossover-design analysis of variance (P < .05 statistically significant). Range of motion in all directions was significantly restricted by cervical collar placement under all conditions. Unrestricted ROM in all directions ranged from 41.50° (7.25°) to 70.76° (15.4°). In contrast, ROM with a cervical collar under the 4 conditions in all directions ranged from 10.80° (5.10°) to 18.81° (7.37°). We were unable to detect any significant differences in ROM between the 4 conditions. Our data suggest that long hair and clothing, which cover the neck, do not alter the effectiveness of cervical collar immobilization as measured by the cervical ROM device.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajem.2005.02.006
DO - 10.1016/j.ajem.2005.02.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 15915420
AN - SCOPUS:19544394627
SN - 0735-6757
VL - 23
SP - 386
EP - 390
JO - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
IS - 3
ER -