title: Effects of spinal immobilization at 20° on respiratory functions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study is to investigate whether spinal immobilization with a long backboard (LBB) and semirigid cervical collar (CC) at 20° instead of 0° conserve pulmonary functions, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 56 adult healthy volunteers. Volunteers were randomly divided into 2 groups, and those in the first group (group 1) had LBBs and CCs applied at 0° (n=30), whereas volunteers in the second group (group 2) had LBBs and CCs applied at 20° (n=26). All volunteers were given pulmonary function tests, which included FEV1 and FVC levels and FEV1/FVC ratios, while in the sitting position. Measurements were repeated at 0, 5, and 30 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed significant decreases in FEV1 and FVC values and FEV1/FVC ratios in group 1 and significant decreases in FEV1 values and FEV1/FVC ratios in group 2 (P<.001). However, FVC values were not decreased in group 2 when compared to basal levels taken while in a sitting position (P=.45). In addition, the study evaluated the amounts of decrease in the FEV1 and FVC levels and the FEV1/FVC ratios (ΔFEV1, ΔFVC, and ΔFEV1/FVC ratio). Results showed that ΔFEV1 values compared to basal levels and levels at 0, 5, and 30 minutes were all lower in group 2 than in group 1. However, ΔFEV1/FVC ratios were similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this and previous studies have shown that traditional spinal immobilization decreases respiratory function, whereas using spinal immobilization at 20° can reduce this decrease in function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Şaban
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Akkuş
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: serefkeremcorbacioglu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Şeref Kerem
authors.initials: ŞK
authors.lastname: Çorbacıoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunsur
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Çevik
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akıncı
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uzunosmanoğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology; D014797:Vital Capacity