Throwing Out the Backboard: Evidence-Based Spinal Immobilization Protocols

Since the 1960’s, spinal immobilization has been an important part of pre-hospital care to prevent further spinal injury. Over the past 60 years, despite significant improvement in almost every other aspect of care, spinal immobilization protocols have changed little. This lecture will cover the history of spinal immobilization, discuss issues with current techniques, and review the current spinal immobilization literature. Attendees will work together to review proposed protocol changes, understand the process of protocol revision, and compare new evidence-based protocols with traditional convention.