Tissue Interface Pressures in Athlete Medical Extraction

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.

Experimental Protocol and Methods

A prospective cross-over study. Players from Nottingham Rugby Football Club and the University of Nottingham (staff and students) will be invited to participate for the study (summer 2016). Participants will be randomly (block randomisation) assigned to start on either the scoop or long board. Participants will be log rolled onto each board and fully immobilised for forty five minutes. The wash out period will be a minimum of forty five minutes. All measurements will be collected on the same pressure mat.

Measureable end points/statistical power of the study

The pressure mat (provided by BES Rehab) will be laid on top of the spinal board and will automatically measure the tissue interface pressure readings (occiput, scapulae, sacrum, heels) every five minutes. Participant reported pain will be measured by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and will be used to collect the comfort ratings data (occiput, scapulae, sacrum, heels, overall) every five minutes. Age, height, weight, sport team and position played and length of sporting participation will also be collected.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy, uninjured - no current sports injury, male, 75kg (165 lb) in weight or over.

Exclusion criteria

• Female, weight less than 75kg (165 lb)