A pilot study using MRI techniques concluded that "the most effective technique to immobilise the cervical spine varied markedly between individuals and further research is required to determine the most effective and safest form of immobilisation."

Is spinal immobilisation effective? Electronic BMJ.
Presented at: British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine annual Scientific Conference, April 2001, Bournemouth.
Accepted for: Trauma Care 2001. July 2001. Edinburgh
Presented at: International Society of Medical Magnetic Residence Imaging, Glasgow 2001
Presented at: European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology, October 2001, Budapest.

2. To determine the risk of biological contamination of the present system of head restraint

Poster on contamination of immobilisers presented at FAEM conference, London, November 2003

3. JRCALC guideline and literature review on spinal immobilisation click here

Other information

A Cochrane review on spinal immobilisation, published in 2009, may be found here