The effect of ATLS/PHTLS spinal motion restriction protocol on the incidence of spinal cord injury, a nationwide database study.
Tijmen W KraaiSylvester R GroenFemke NawijnMartien J M PannemanMike HogervorstJoost G Ten BrinkeJ Carel GoslingsPublished in: European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society (2024)
Since implementation of the SMR-protocol was aiming to limit TSCI in patients who suffered a spinal fracture, the increase in TSCI is an unexpected finding. Exact explanation for this increase is unclear and the contribution of the SMR-protocol is not fully understood due to confounders in the used datasets. Either way, the scientific evidence supporting this costly time- and labor-intensive SMR-protocol remains debated, along with evidence contradicting it. Therefore it stresses the need for clear, evidencebased reasoning for spinal immobilization according to ATLS, as this is currently lacking.