Cervical collar
Medical device used to support a neck / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A cervical collar, also known as a neck brace, is a medical device used to support and immobilize a person's neck. It is also applied by emergency personnel to those who have had traumatic head or neck injuries,[1] although they should not be routinely used in prehospital care.[2][3] They can also be used to treat chronic medical conditions.[citation needed]
Whenever people have a traumatic head or neck injury, they may have a cervical fracture. This makes them at high risk for spinal cord injury, which could be exacerbated by movement of the person and could lead to paralysis or death. A common scenario for this injury would be a person suspected of having whiplash because of a car accident.[4] In order to prevent further injury, such people may have a collar placed by medical professionals until X-rays can be taken to determine if a cervical spine fracture exists.[5] Medical professionals will often use the NEXUS criteria and/or the Canadian C-spine rules to clear a cervical collar and determine the need for imaging.
The routine use of a cervical collar is not recommended.[2][3][6]
Cervical collars are also used therapeutically to help realign the spinal cord and relieve pain,[7] although they are usually not worn for long periods of time.[8] Another use of the cervical collar is for strains, sprains, or whiplash.[4][5] If pain is persistent, the collar might be required to remain attached to help in the healing process.[5][7] A person may also need a cervical collar, or may require a halo fixation device to support the neck during recovery after surgery such as cervical spinal fusion.[9]