title: The incidence of skin breakdown associated with use of cervical collars.
abstract: The most common adverse complication associated with cervical immobilization is skin breakdown. The purpose of this prospective, descriptive study was to assess the incidence of tissue breakdown associated with cervical immobilization. In this convenience sample of 484 patients, skin breakdown was noted in 33 (6.8%) patients. All cases of documented skin breakdown were stage I or II, with only 2 (0.4%) patients having stage III breakdown. Days in the cervical collar is a significant predictor of skin breakdown, along with presence of edema. Results from this study demonstrate that there is a very low incidence of complications of skin breakdown associated with the use of Aspen cervical collars. The collars are safe and effective to use in patients with actual or suspected head or spine injuries.
authors.affiliation: Neuro Critical Care, Clarian Health Partners, Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Ind., USA. jpowers@clarian.org
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hilbish
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001915:Braces / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers