"THE BOTTOM LINE:
- There is no high-level evidence that prehospital spinal immobilization positively impacts patient oriented outcomes
- Spinal Immobilization Does NOT Help Immobilize the Cervical Spine
- Spinal Immobilization Does NOT Decrease Rates of Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Immobilization Increases the Difficulty of Airway Management
- Spinal Immobilization Can Cause Pressure Ulcers
- Spinal Immobilization Changes the Physical Exam
- Spinal Immobilization Worsens Pulmonary Function
- Spinal Immobilization Increases Intracranial Pressure
- There is no evidence that immobilizing awake, alert patients without deficits/complaints provides benefit
- Selective spinal immobilization protocols can help identify patients at low risk for injury and avoid immobilization"