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Table 2 The PICO questions

From: New clinical guidelines on the spinal stabilisation of adult trauma patients – consensus and evidence based

Clinical question

Population

Intervention

Comparator

Outcome

Should adult trauma patients where there is concern for the development of a secondary spinal cord injury undergo spinal stabilisation...

Adult trauma patients (> = 18 years), where there is concern for the development of a secondary spinal chord injury

   

1.) ...with a rigid cervical collar?

ditto

Rigid cervical collar

No rigid cervical collar

Mortality

Neurologic morbidity

Ulcerations

Pain / discomfort

Respiratory deterioration

Time to diagnose

Intracranial pressure

2.) …on a hard backboard?

ditto

Hard backboard

No hard backboard

Mortality

Neurologic morbidity

Pain/discomfort

Ulcerations

Time to diagnose

3.) …in a vacuum mattress?

ditto

Vacuum mattress

No vacuum mattress

Mortality Neurologic morbidity

Pain/discomfort Ulcerations

Time to diagnose

4.) Should adult trauma patients with isolated penetrating injuries undergo spinal stabilisation?

ditto

Spinal stabilisation

No spinal stabilisation

Mortality

Neurologic morbidity

5.) Should the decision, whether and how to stabilise the spine of a trauma patient be facilitated by a clinical decision tool?

ditto

Use of a clinical decision tool

No use of a clinical decision tool

Mortality

Neurologic morbidity