Citation

Sundstrøm T, Asbjørnsen H, Habiba S, Sunde GA, Wester K. J. Neurotrauma 2014; 31(6): 531-540.

Affiliation

University of Bergen, Department of Biomedicine, Bergen, Norway, University of Bergen, Department of Clinical Medicine K1, Bergen, Norway, Haukeland University Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Bergen, Norway ; terje.sundstrom@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/neu.2013.3094

PMID

23962031

Abstract

The cervical collar has been routinely used for trauma patients for more than 30 years and is a hallmark of state-of-the-art prehospital trauma care. However, the existing evidence for this practice is limited: randomized controlled trials are largely missing, and there are uncertain effects on mortality, neurological injury, and spinal stability. Even more concerning, there is a growing body of evidence and opinion against the use of collars. It has been argued that collars cause more harm than good, and that we should simply stop using them. In this critical review, we discuss the pros and cons of collar use in trauma patients, and reflect on how we can move our clinical practice forward. Conclusively, we propose a safe and effective strategy for prehospital spinal immobilization that does not include routine use of collars.

Language: en