Editing Cervical collar (section)

{{Short description|Medical device used to support a neck}}

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{{for|the surgical procedure of putting a collar around the cervix|Cervical cerclage}}
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| name          = Cervical collar
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| image         = Cervical collar.jpg
| caption       = A man in a hospital bed wearing a cervical collar following a suspected [[spinal cord injury]]
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A '''cervical collar''', also known as a '''neck brace''', is a [[medical equipment|medical device]] used to support and immobilize a person's neck. It is also applied by [[emergency medical services|emergency personnel]] to those who have had traumatic head or neck injuries,<ref name="Mistovich 2000 662">{{cite book| vauthors = Mistovich JJ, Hafen BQ, Karren KJ |title=Brady Prehospital Emergency Care |publisher=Prentice-Hall|location=Upper Saddle River, NJ|year=2000|edition=6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/prehospitalemer000hafe/page/662 662]|isbn=978-0-8359-6064-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/prehospitalemer000hafe/page/662}}</ref> although they should not be routinely used in prehospital care.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Sundstrøm |first1=Terje |last2=Asbjørnsen |first2=Helge |last3=Habiba |first3=Samer |last4=Sunde |first4=Geir Arne |last5=Wester |first5=Knut |date=2014-03-15 |title=Prehospital Use of Cervical Collars in Trauma Patients: A Critical Review |journal=Journal of Neurotrauma |volume=31 |issue=6 |pages=531–540 |doi=10.1089/neu.2013.3094 |issn=0897-7151 |pmc=3949434 |pmid=23962031}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=INTERNATIONAL TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT: THE USE OF CERVICAL COLLARS IN SPINAL MOTION RESTRICTION |url=https://www.itrauma.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Current-Thinking-Cervical-Collar-Use-in-SMR-May-2019.pdf |website=International Trauma Life Support}}</ref> They can also be used to treat chronic medical conditions.{{Cn|date=March 2024}}

Whenever people have a [[Physical trauma|trauma]]tic head or neck injury, they may have a [[cervical fracture]]. This makes them at high risk for [[spinal cord injury]], which could be exacerbated by movement of the person and could lead to [[paralysis]] or death. A common scenario for this injury would be a person suspected of having [[whiplash (medicine)|whiplash]] because of a [[car accident]].<ref name="webmd-whiplash">{{Cite web | veditors = DerSarkissian C | date= 14 April 2021 |url=http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/whiplash|title=Whiplash|access-date=2008-03-07|publisher=[[WebMD]]}}</ref> In order to prevent further injury, such people may have a collar placed by medical professionals until [[X-ray]]s can be taken to determine if a [[cervical fracture|cervical spine fracture]] exists.<ref name="webmd-neckstrain">{{Cite web|url=http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/neck-strain | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080103074724/http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/neck-strain | archive-date = 3 January 2008 |title=Neck Strains|access-date=2008-03-07|publisher=[[WebMD]]}}</ref> Medical professionals will often use the NEXUS criteria and/or the Canadian C-spine rules to [[Clearing the cervical spine|clear a cervical collar]] and determine the need for imaging.

The routine use of a cervical collar is not recommended.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name="pmid26477417">{{cite journal | vauthors = Zideman DA, De Buck ED, Singletary EM, Cassan P, Chalkias AF, Evans TR, Hafner CM, Handley AJ, Meyran D, Schunder-Tatzber S, Vandekerckhove PG | title = European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2015 Section 9. First aid | journal = Resuscitation | volume = 95 | issue =  | pages = 278–287 | date = October 2015 | pmid = 26477417 | doi = 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2015.07.031 | url = https://ercguidelines.elsevierresource.com/european-resuscitation-council-guidelines-resuscitation-2015-section-9-first-aid/fulltext| doi-access = free }}</ref>

Cervical collars are also used therapeutically to help realign the spinal cord and relieve pain,<ref name="webmd-physicaltherapy">{{Cite web | vauthors =  Watson S | veditors = Wheeler T | date = 21 April 2021 |url=http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/physical-therapy-other-options|title=Physical Therapy and Other Options for Neck Pain |access-date=2008-03-07|publisher=[[WebMD]]}}</ref> although they are usually not worn for long periods of time.<ref name="webmd-ergonomics">{{Cite web |url=http://women.webmd.com/tc/office-ergonomics-other-treatment-for-injuries-related-to-the-workstation|title=Office Ergonomics - Other Treatment for Injuries Related to the Workstation|access-date=2008-03-07|publisher=[[WebMD]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328151817/http://women.webmd.com/tc/office-ergonomics-other-treatment-for-injuries-related-to-the-workstation|archive-date=2008-03-28}}</ref> Another use of the cervical collar is for [[strain (injury)|strains]],  [[sprain]]s, or [[Whiplash (medicine)|whiplash]].<ref name="webmd-whiplash"/><ref name="webmd-neckstrain" /> If pain is persistent, the collar might be required to remain attached to help in the healing process.<ref name="webmd-neckstrain" /><ref name="webmd-physicaltherapy" /> A person may also need a cervical collar, or may require a [[Halo (medicine)|halo fixation device]] to support the neck during [[healing|recovery]] after surgery such as [[spinal fusion|cervical spinal fusion]].<ref name="webmd-spinalfusion">{{Cite web|url=http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/cervical-spinal-fusion|title=Cervical spinal fusion|access-date=2008-03-07|publisher=[[WebMD]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330104958/http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/cervical-spinal-fusion|archive-date=2008-03-30|url-status=dead}}</ref>