A patient with spinal injury should be transported using:?

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO- 2019

Explanation

The log roll technique is the standard, safe method for moving a patient with a suspected spinal injury.
Its primary purpose is to maintain neutral alignment of the head, neck, and spine, preventing further damage to the spinal cord.
This maneuver is used to reposition the patient or transfer them onto a transport device like a spine board.
It requires a coordinated effort by multiple caregivers to move the patient's body as a single unit.

Option A: Using a wheelchair forces the patient into a sitting position, which causes spinal flexion. This movement can severely worsen a spinal injury and is strictly contraindicated.
Option C: A sitting position places direct pressure on the vertebrae and encourages spinal flexion, which can cause catastrophic damage to an unstable spine.
Option D: The knee-chest position involves extreme curvature of the spine. It is highly dangerous and absolutely forbidden for any patient with a suspected or confirmed spinal injury.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Safe patient handling and transport for spinal injuries to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Properly executing a log roll is a fundamental and critical skill for nurses, paramedics, and first responders to prevent secondary spinal cord injury, which can lead to permanent paralysis or death.
Any suspected spinal injury is treated as a real injury until proven otherwise. This means strict adherence to spinal motion restriction protocols from the moment of first contact.
What if? The patient is found alone and needs to be moved from a dangerous environment immediately. Even in an emergency, the principle of moving the patient in a straight line (axial drag) with as little twisting as possible should be attempted, rather than bending them into a sitting or carried position.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core clinical problem: transporting a patient with a spinal injury.
Recall the cardinal rule for all suspected spinal injuries: maintain spinal alignment at all costs to prevent further damage. The head, neck, and back must be kept in a straight line.
Evaluate each option against this rule.
A wheelchair, sitting position, and knee-chest position all involve bending or flexing the spine. These actions directly violate the cardinal rule and are therefore incorrect and dangerous.
The log roll technique is specifically designed to move the patient as a single, rigid unit, keeping the spine straight.
Conclude that the log roll technique is the only safe procedure listed for moving a patient with a spinal injury.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor pp. 334-336, 335-337

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