A long spine board (LSB), or backboard, is a medical device used for the immobilization and transportation of patients. Backboards are used especially when trauma to the spine is suspected, because movement when a patient has a spinal injury can damage the spinal cord and result in permanent paralysis. Spine boards are frequently used in patient extrication from vehicles after auto accidents.

The spine board is made of metal, wood, or plastic and has a metallic strucre. It is a bit longer and larger than an adult human body, and has handles for carrying the patient. Backboards must be rigid, washable, and invisible to X-rays so that it does not interfere with diagnosing fractures while patients are strapped to it.

The spine can be splinted, or immobilized, with several devices:

• a rigid cervical collar;
• side head supports, used to avoid the rotation of the head, such as a rolled blanket or head blocks made for the purpose;
• depending on the size of the casualty, it can be necessary to put rolled blankets along the pelvis too;
• straps to secure the patient to the long spine board at the forehead, the chin, shoulders, pelvis and legs (to be adapted according to specific traumas).

The spine board's advantages over the vacuum mattress are:

• it is light and resistant;
• when it is used as a scoop, it eliminates the need for transfer to another immobilization device.

Its drawbacks are:

• it is hard, so it can cause secondary damages;
• it is uncomfortable;
• it has no flange, so the casualty may not feel secured during the movements;
• due to the strapping, it is not adapted to pelvis or limb traumas.

See also

• Spinal injury
• Cervical collar
• Clearing the cervical spine

External links

• A photographic guide to prehospital spinal care (PDF file, 235p, 9 Mb)

• A new padded backboard has been introduced to the market. The padding attached to the surface of the backboard aims to resolve one of the drawbacks listed above. The padding on the RescuePad spineboard eliminates hotspots suffered by many patients while they are strapped to the long spine board.

Spineboard | Plan dur

Patient transport | Prehospital care