For gunshot and stab victims, on-scene spine immobilization may do more harm than good
Monday, January 11, 2010 - 23:14
in Health & Medicine
Immobilizing the spines of shooting and stabbing victims before they are taken to the hospital -- standard procedure in Maryland and some other parts of the country -- appears to double the risk of death compared to transporting patients to a trauma center without this time-consuming, on-scene medical intervention, according to a new study.