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EMR
EMT
AEMT
Paramedic
Extended
Spine Injured Athletes
Spine Injured Athletes
Clinical Considerations
Current NATA recommendations are designed to guide clinical judgment. They are not law.
Athletes with potential spine injury wearing protective gear complicates lifting, movement, and assessment
Care should be taken to move the spine injured athlete in the most effective way to reduce spine motion.
Patients who are ambulatory on scene should be instructed to sit on the cot.
The intent of the rigid spine board is to facilitate movement and extrication. It provides no benefit and may
cause harm to a patient once they are on the ambulance cot.
Every effort should be taken to remove the patient from the rigid spine board as soon as it is possible
If any doubt exists whether or not a patient has a spine injury, utilize spine motion restriction
Apply manual c-spine control if any Mechanism of Injury for spine trauma exists
Significant MOI
Head-to-head collision
Head-down tackle
Axial loading
Recreational vehicles
Questionable MOI
Player down after tackle,
unknown injury pattern
Hit/punched above clavicles
Any doubt
Minimal MOI or no energy
applied to the spine
Isolated extremity injuries
Spine Motion Restriction
Not Indicated
Stabilize injury and transport
Consider
Pain Management
NEXUS Criteria Examination
GCS < 15 in any patient
Intoxication
Neurological Deficit
Midline Spine Tenderness
Distracting Injury
No Abnormality
Any Abnormality
Evaluate need for
protective
equipment removal
Remove if indicated
Apply
Rigid Spine Board
or
Scoop-Style Stretcher
Move patient to ambulance cot
Continue with transport
As soon as it is feasible, remove
from rigid device.
Clinical Considerations
Protective equipment removal is indicated in loss of consciousness,
airway compromise, suspected hidden injuries, or any life threats.
Be a patient advocate. It is
critical
that the patient spends
minimal
time on a rigid spine device.
Weigh the risks/benefits of rigid device removal vs. management of
life threats, scene time, patient comfort, and difficulty of removal
Do not logroll the spine injured athlete to a backboard unless found
prone; use the NATA recommended 8 person slide technique
If the helmet must be removed, so must the shoulder/torso pads