A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO OCCIPITAL PRESSURE ULCERS RELATED TO CERVICAL COLLARS

Pressure ulcers related to cervical collars are a common difficult-to- manage complication of cervical immobilization in the trauma patient. After many cases of occipital pressure ulcers occurred at our institut ion, a multidisciplinary task force was formed to look at this issue. The group was to identify causes for this problem and develop a plan t o decrease the occurrence of pressure ulcers related to cervical immob ilization. The problem involved three areas that needed improvement. T hese were: nursing care, the type of collar used, and the lengthy proc ess of clearing C-spines. The group developed objectives, goals, and i nterventions to resolve these concerns. The task force developed a pro tocol for nursing care, changed to a different type of cervical collar , and developed a protocol for clearing cervical spine films. Through the use of a multidisciplinary approach, the development of protocols and a new product, pressure ulcers related to cervical collars have be en eliminated in our institution. In addition, patients are staying in cervical collars half the time as before the protocol was implemented .