Research To Backboard or Not To Backboard
Traditional spinal immobilization standards have changed in some emergency medical services systems to exclude routine spineboard use. Rather, patients are managed by employing spinal motion restriction; whereby only a cervical collar is applied and a scoop stretcher or sheet are used during ground-to-stretcher and stretcher-to-bed transfers. This research compared head movement and vital signs in backboard and stretcher-only conditions.
Prehospital Cervical Spine Motion: Immobilization Versus Spine Motion Restriction.