A Comparison of Tissue Interface Pressures and Comfort Ratings of the Scoop Stretcher and Traditional Long Back Board in Rugby and University Athletes

Background

In recent years the scoop stretcher, for a number of reasons, has been advocated by the Faculty for Pre-hospital Care (Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, United Kingdom) as the 'Gold Standard' method of extrication and transport in pre-hospital trauma and this has been extrapolated to extricating athletes from the field of play in sport who have sustained a potential spine injury. In addition they have advised that the conventional long back boards should no longer to be used as a stretcher, only a pure extrication device. This has an implication to the emergency care currently provided in sport and will affect every sports club financially and every medical team who require training in the use of the new device.

Previous research studies have looked at how much pressure lying on different spinal boards (e.g. the long back board or vacuum mattress) causes the athlete. This is because of a concern that lying on a board for too long may cause pressure sores or other medical complications. However, no research has been done to measure these tissue pressures using the scoop stretcher which is now indicated for general use in pre-hospital care in sport. Also there is no evidence to compare how comfortable athletes find the different spinal boards.

Aims

This observational study aims to measure the tissue interface pressures and perceived levels of comfort of rugby players and University participants (staff and students) immobilised on a scoop stretcher and on a long back board for forty five minutes. It will also enable the changes in pressures and comfort ratings over time to be assessed to evaluate the appropriate time cut off for such immobilisation.