Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41546031›Full record

ArticleScandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine2026

Effectiveness and safety of techniques for cervical spine immobilization in mountain rescue.

Richard F Kraus, Maximilian L Knipfer, Matthias Jacob, Baerbel Kieninger, Jasmine Alikhani, Parham Heydarzadeh Ghamsary, Lukas Reinker, Ina Adler, Sebastian Dendorfer, Martin Kieninger

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Richard F KrausDepartment of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. Richard-Felix.Kraus@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5280-6530
Maximilian L KnipferDepartment of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Matthias JacobBavarian Mountain Rescue Service, Am Sportpark 6, 83646, Bad Tölz, Germany.
Baerbel KieningerDepartment of Infection Prevention and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Jasmine AlikhaniDepartment of Infection Prevention and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Parham Heydarzadeh GhamsaryDepartment of Infection Prevention and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Lukas ReinkerLaboratory for Biomechanics, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Seybothstraße 2, Regensburg, 93053, Germany.
Ina AdlerLaboratory for Biomechanics, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Seybothstraße 2, Regensburg, 93053, Germany.
Sebastian DendorferLaboratory for Biomechanics, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Seybothstraße 2, Regensburg, 93053, Germany.
Martin KieningerDepartment of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCervical spine injuries in alpine sports require immediate immobilization at the site of the accident to avoid possible secondary damage caused by transportation. Using special sensor technology, this study investigated whether a cervical spine orthosis (cervical collar, Stifneck collar (Laerdal Medical GmbH, Puchheim, Germany)) provides greater stability than a vacuum mattress alone.

methodsUsing one male test person, we simulated transporting a patient with a spinal injury in steep alpine terrain. A wireless motion capture system (Xsens Technologies, Movella™ Inc., Henderson, USA) was used to record motion in three-dimensional space within a standardized environment. All tests were performed on a set course by the Bavarian Mountain Rescue Service. The test person lay on a mountain rescue stretcher and was immobilized with a vacuum mattress, either with or without a cervical orthosis. The axes of cervical spine movements were analyzed separately.

resultsThere were no significant differences between immobilization with and without a cervical orthosis with regard to lateral flexion (max. 3.7° compared to 3.0°) in the frontal plane and maximum excursion in flexion (max. 1.6° compared to 2.8°) or extension (max. -1.6° compared to -1.7°). There was significantly greater rotation movement around the craniocaudal axis without an orthosis (max. 2.4° compared to 1.3°).

conclusionDuring mountain rescues, the cervical spine can be immobilized without a rigid cervical spine orthosis. Future research should explore the fundamental benefits of cervical spine immobilization, while the findings of this work contribute to the safe care of patients by avoiding the disadvantages associated with rigid cervical orthoses.

Indexed as

Cervical VertebraeImmobilizationMountaineeringOrthotic DevicesRescue WorkSpinal InjuriesHumansMaleCervical spineImmobilizationMountain rescueOrthosisVacuum mattress

Identifiers

PMID41546031
PMCPMC12849128

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.