For any patient with an actual or suspected spinal cord injury, care should be taken to ensure the spine remains in anatomical alignment in order to reduce the risk of further damage to the spinal...

For any patient with an actual or suspected spinal cord injury, care should be taken to ensure the spine remains in anatomical alignment in order to reduce the risk of further damage to the spinal cord. This is achieved by positioning patients in a neutral anatomical position. The head and neck should be secured using a rigid collar and bolsters, sometimes called sand bags/head blocks, on either side of the head; these are then strapped to a secure point.

During moving or positioning the whole spine must be kept in the neutral position. A coordinated manoeuvre known as a log roll is performed using a minimum of four people. The nominated leader manages the patient’s head and neck; this person will move the head through an arc as it rotates with the rest of the body, while keeping the spine in perfect alignment.