Immobilization Techniques Flashcards
What is immobilization?
A method of applying restrictive measures to prevent patient/part movement
What does immobilization and communication help to reduce?
Motion on radiographs
What does the slightest movement cause on radiographs?
Blurring
What is the most significant contributing factor to unacceptable image quality?
Motion distortion
What do positioning inaccuracies contribute to?
Suboptimum image quality
What does motion distortion result from?
Involuntary and voluntary patient movement
What does motion from patients result in?
The need to repeat radiographs and increase radiation exposure to the patient
What is critical to effective immobilization?
Communication
What exposure time should be used for immobilization?
Short exposure times
What can be used to assist in immobilization?
Immobilization aids
What else can be used as an effective way of facilitating good immobilization?
Empathy for the patients condition
What is voluntary motion?
Motion that can be controlled by the patient
When does voluntary motion occur?
As a result of inadequate communication by the technologist
What is involuntary motion?
Motion due to contributing factors such as temperature, shock, neurological disorders and medication
What is the most effective means of reducing motion and ensuring the patient cooperates?
Communication
How should the technologist give instructions to the patient?
Give patient instructions in simple terms the patient can understand
What non verbal instructions can be used to communicate?
Demonstrations and other methods
What does communication with the patient also include?
Establishing good rapport and showing empathy for the patient
What is rapport?
A relationship of harmony and accord between two persons
When does rapport with the patient take place?
Begins from the introduction and continues throughout the procedure
What is empathy?
Being able to enter the patient’s emotions
How can a technologist show empathy for their patient?
By seeing things from the patients perspective or emotional state
What is empathy different from?
Different from having sympathy or feeling sorry for the patient
When is restraining done?
To prevent the patient from injuring themselves
What must immobilization and restraint devices not interfere with?
A patient’s circulation or respiration
Who is responsible for ordering restraints?
Physicians
When are restraints for adults applied?
Applied before the patient arrives in radiology department
What do restraints consist of?
Wrist and ankle bands fastened to the bed or stretcher
What features should immobilization devices possess?
- Radiolucency
- Flexibility
- Durability
- Reproducibility
- Safety and reliability
- No image artifacts
What are the two types of immobilization devices?
Simple and involved
What do simple immobilization devices include?
Sandbags and sponges used to help a patient maintain a position
What do involved immobilization devices include?
More complex devices such as spinal trauma boards that hold patients completely still
What are types of immobilization devices?
- Positioning sponges
- Sheets
- Sandbags
- Velcro straps
- Head clamps
- Commercial devices
What are some other types of immobilization devices?
- Cervical collar
- Spine board
- Splints
- Sheet restraints
- Commercial restraint devices
- Stockinettes
- Tape
What are routine applications of simple immobilization devices?
Sponges, sandbags, Velcro straps, plexiplate, compression bands and head clamps
What are complex immobilization techniques?
- Mummy wrap technique
- Securing a patient to a backboard
- Commercial restraints
When are immobilization devices applied during trauma applications?
Before the patient arrives at the radiology department
What shouldn’t radiologist remove in trauma applications?
Should never remove immobilization devices that have been applied by EMTs
When should be the only time immobilization devices should be removed?
Only after the radiologist has read the initial radiographs as negative and physician has approved