scholarly journals The Impact of a Cervical Collar on Intracranial Pressure in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Trauma Care ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Naif Bazaie ◽  
Ibrahim Alghamdi ◽  
Naif Alqurashi ◽  
Zubair Ahmed

Purpose: Although the use of a cervical collar in the prehospital setting is recommended to prevent secondary spinal cord injuries and ensure spinal immobilization, it is not known what effects this has on raising intracranial pressure (ICP) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. In the absence of studies measuring ICP in the prehospital setting, the aim of this study was to systematically review the data related to ICP changes measured after presentation at the hospital in patients who had arrived wearing cervical collars. Methods: We searched Medline (PubMed), Embase, CINAHL, and Google Scholar for studies that investigated in-hospital ICP changes in TBI patients arriving at the hospital wearing collars. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were then searched for inclusion in the study. A narrative synthesis, as well as a meta-analysis, was performed. Results: Of the 1006 studies identified, only three met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The quality of the three included studies was moderate and the risk of bias was low. All three studies used the Laerdal Stifneck collar, but all studies showed an increase in ICP after application of the collar. A further three studies that measured ICP but did not fit the systematic search were also included due to low patient numbers. A meta-analysis of the pooled data confirmed a significant increase in ICP, although between the four studies, only 77 patients were included. The meta-analysis also confirmed that after removal of the collar, there was a significant decrease in ICP. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the use of a cervical collar increases ICP in TBI and head injury patients, which may have detrimental effects. However, due to the extremely low sample size from all six studies, caution must be exercised when interpreting these data. Thus, further high-quality research is necessary to unequivocally clarify whether cervical collars should be used in patients with TBI.

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 4106-4117
Author(s):  
David Rösli ◽  
Beat Schnüriger ◽  
Daniel Candinas ◽  
Tobias Haltmeier

Abstract Background Accidental hypothermia is a known predictor for worse outcomes in trauma patients, but has not been comprehensively assessed in a meta-analysis so far. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of accidental hypothermia on mortality in trauma patients overall and patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) specifically. Methods This is a systematic review and meta-analysis using the Ovid Medline/PubMed database. Scientific articles reporting accidental hypothermia and its impact on outcomes in trauma patients were included in qualitative synthesis. Studies that compared the effect of hypothermia vs. normothermia at hospital admission on in-hospital mortality were included in two meta-analyses on (1) trauma patients overall and (2) patients with TBI specifically. Meta-analysis was performed using a Mantel–Haenszel random-effects model. Results Literature search revealed 264 articles. Of these, 14 studies published 1987–2018 were included in the qualitative synthesis. Seven studies qualified for meta-analysis on trauma patients overall and three studies for meta-analysis on patients with TBI specifically. Accidental hypothermia at admission was associated with significantly higher mortality both in trauma patients overall (OR 5.18 [95% CI 2.61–10.28]) and patients with TBI specifically (OR 2.38 [95% CI 1.53–3.69]). Conclusions In the current meta-analysis, accidental hypothermia was strongly associated with higher in-hospital mortality both in trauma patients overall and patients with TBI specifically. These findings underscore the importance of measures to avoid accidental hypothermia in the prehospital care of trauma patients.


2020 ◽  
pp. 175114372090169
Author(s):  
MJ Rowland ◽  
T Veenith ◽  
C Scomparin ◽  
MH Wilson ◽  
PJ Hutchinson ◽  
...  

Hyperosmolar solutions are widely used to treat raised intracranial pressure following severe traumatic brain injury. Although mannitol has historically been the most frequently administered, hypertonic saline solutions are increasingly being used. However, definitive evidence regarding their comparative effectiveness is lacking. The Sugar or Salt Trial is a UK randomised, allocation concealed open label multicentre pragmatic trial designed to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of hypertonic saline compared with mannitol in the management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Patients requiring intensive care unit admission and intracranial pressure monitoring post-traumatic brain injury will be allocated at random to receive equi-osmolar boluses of either mannitol or hypertonic saline following failure of routine first-line measures to control intracranial pressure. The primary outcome for the study will be the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale assessed at six months after randomisation. Results will inform current clinical practice in the routine use of hyperosmolar therapy as well as assess the impact of potential side effects. Pre-planned longer term clinical and cost effectiveness analyses will further inform the use of these treatments.


2021 ◽  
pp. jnnp-2020-325066
Author(s):  
Mark Sen Liang Goh ◽  
Dawn Shu Hui Looi ◽  
Jia Ling Goh ◽  
Rehena Sultana ◽  
Sharon Si Min Goh ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo assess the burden of paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) on neurocognition via a systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsStudies that compared neurocognitive outcomes of paediatric patients with TBI and controls were searched using Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, between January 1988 and August 2019. We presented a random-effects model, stratified by TBI severity, time of assessment post injury and age.ResultsOf 5919 studies, 41 (patients=3717) and 33 (patients=3118) studies were included for the systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. Studies mostly measured mild TBI (n=26, patients=2888) at 0–3 months postinjury (n=17, patients=2502). At 0–3 months postinjury, standardised mean differences between TBI and controls for executive function were −0.04 (95% CI −0.14 to 0.07; I2=0.00%), −0.18 (95% CI −0.29 to –0.06; I2=26.1%) and −0.95 (95% CI −1.12 to –0.77; I2=10.1%) for mild, moderate and severe TBI, respectively; a similar effect was demonstrated for learning and memory. Severe TBI had the worst outcomes across all domains and persisted >24 months postinjury. Commonly used domains differed largely from workgroup recommendations. Risk of bias was acceptable for all included studies.ConclusionA dose-dependent relationship between TBI severity and neurocognitive outcomes was evident in executive function and in learning and memory. Cognitive deficits were present for TBIs of all severity but persisted among children with severe TBI. The heterogeneity of neurocognitive scales makes direct comparison between studies difficult. Future research into lesser explored domains and a more detailed assessment of neurocognitive deficits in young children are required to better understand the true burden of paediatric TBI.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-486
Author(s):  
Guru Dutta Satyarthee ◽  
Luis Rafael Moscote-Salazar ◽  
Amit Agrawal

Abstract Rigid collars are routinely used to immobilise the cervical spine during early phase of management of trauma cases until cervical clearance is obtained or else diagnosed as case of cervical spine injury following detailed clinical as well as neurological evaluation. Spinal injuries commonly coexist in patients sustaining severe head injury. Till date, there is no clear cut consensus about effect of application of a rigid collar in cases suffering with traumatic brain injury. However, concern are regularly raised over collar application, such practice may have adverse effect on cerebrovascular regulation and ultimately affecting intracranial pressure and outcome. Authors made detailed Pubmed, EMBASE, AMED, and Thomson Reuters, Medline line search and could find out six articles. According to existing literature, the cervical collar has the potential to influence intracranial pressure in patients suffering with head injury. There are several reports in the literature showing that cervical immobilization may alter intracranial pressure and the changes in ICP closely depend on the types of cervical collars used. Authors discuss the current status based on review of updated literature on possible effect on the intracranial pressure produced by application of rigid cervical collar and briefly literature is reviewed.


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