The 6-plus-person lift transfer technique compared with other methods of spine boarding.
BACKGROUND
To achieve full spinal immobilization during on-the-field management of an actual or potential spinal injury, rescuers transfer and secure patients to a long spine board. Several techniques can be used to facilitate this patient transfer.


OBJECTIVE
To compare spinal segment motion of cadavers during the execution of the 6-plus-person (6+) lift, lift-and-slide (LS), and logroll (LR) spine-board transfer techniques.


METHODS
Crossover study.


METHODS
Laboratory.


METHODS
Eight medical professionals (1 woman, 7 men) with 5 to 32 years of experience were enlisted to help carry out the transfer techniques. In addition, test conditions were performed on 5 fresh cadavers (3 males, 2 females) with a mean age of 86.2 +/- 11.4 years.


METHODS
Three-dimensional angular and linear motions initially were recorded during execution of transfer techniques, initially using cadavers with intact spines and then after C5-C6 spinal segment destabilization. The mean maximal linear displacement and angular motion obtained and calculated from the 3 trials for each test condition were included in the statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Flexion-extension angular motion, as well as anteroposterior and distraction-compression linear motion, did not vary between the LR and either the 6+ lift or LS. Compared with the execution of the 6+ lift and LS, the execution of the LR generated significantly more axial rotation (P = .008 and .001, respectively), more lateral flexion (P = .005 and .003, respectively), and more medial-lateral translation (P = .003 and .004, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
A small amount of spinal motion is inevitable when executing spine-board transfer techniques; however, the execution of the 6+ lift or LS appears to minimize the extent of motion generated across a globally unstable spinal segment.
Del Rossi
Gianluca
G
University of South Florida College of Medicine, 3500 E Fletcher Avenue, Suite 511, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. gdelross@health.usf.edu
Horodyski
Marybeth H
MH
Conrad
Bryan P
BP
Di Paola
Christian P
CP
Di Paola
Matthew J
MJ
Rechtine
Glenn R
GR
D001265:Athletic Injuries; D002102:Cadaver; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods*; D017770:Lifting; D008297:Male; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D011187:Posture; D013124:Spinal Injuries; D013131:Spine; D014187:Transportation of Patients