SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION
Safe, rapid, and careful transport of the spinal injured patient to a medical facility for definitive care has long been a fundamental concept of emergency medical service care delivery. No reported Class I medical evidence clinical studies have established the requirement or effectiveness of this strategy. A search of the literature bas provided only Class III medical evidence in support of this practice.
One of the basic principles of prehospital spinal care is the early transfer of the injured patient to a center with the resources and expertise to manage acute cervical spine injuries or SCIs.1 5 Better
Neurological outcomes with fewer complications have been reported when early transfer to a specialized SCI center is accomplished. 3 5 Limiting untoward spinal motion during
Transportation of patients with cervical spine injuries is considered essential to preserve neurological function and to limit further injury from spinal instability .9 the transport of injured patients to the closest definitive care facility can be provided with a variety of transportation methods. Choosing the mode of transportation depends on the patient's overall medical status, the distance to the
nearest capable facility, and the availability of resources