Changing your childs cervical spine collar (1257)

Key points below

How is a cervical spine injury diagnosed?

Symptoms depend on the type of injury, and if the spinal cord has been injured.  Your child may have pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness.  The injury will be diagnosed by your child’s doctor through special x-rays, CT scans or MRI. Your child’s x-ray may be normal, but they may still have pain. It is important to prevent more damage and to protect the spinal cord while the bones and tissues heal.

How will the cervical spine be protected while it heals?

A doctor will have your child fitted with a cervical collar.  The collar supports the head and neck while the cervical spine heals.  It is important to wear the collar as directed by your doctor.  If the collar is not worn, your child may have permanent damage.  
How and when do I change the collar?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, change the collar once a day.  Remove it to check the skin for redness or open sores.   Wash your child’s face and neck.  Have your child shower or bathe with the collar on and change the pads after. 

Follow these instructions and gather all of your supplies before changing the collar.

Supplies Needed:

Be sure your child can lie still.  Have a second person help hold your child’s head still while changing the collar.  If your child cannot lie still, you will make a different plan with your hospital team before leaving the hospital.

Changing the Collar and Skin Care

1. Have your child lie flat on their back, with their arms at their sides.   As taught in the hospital, have another adult hold your child’s head and neck in a straight line.

2. Release the Velcro straps and remove the front panel.
a. Clean the skin.  Use gentle soap and water and wipe under the face, chin, and neck.  Rinse away soap and dry the skin.
b. Do not place any powders or lotions on the skin as they may cause rashes under the collar.
c. Call your healthcare provider if you see any redness, sores, or skin breakdown from the collar.

3. Remove the pads from the front panel by pulling the pads off of the Velcro.
a. Remove the old pad and put a clean, dry pad on the front plastic panel.  The pad must cover all of the edges so that no plastic touches the skin.
b. Put the front collar on by squeezing the sides of the collar together and tucking it under your child’s chin.  The chin should be at the end of the chin groove.

Changing the back panel pads and skin care.

1. Roll your child onto their side. As taught in the hospital, have another adult hold your child’s head and neck in a straight line.
2. Remove the back panel while another adult holds the front panel in place.
3. Clean the neck gently with soap and water.  Rinse away soap and dry the area.
4. Call your healthcare provider if you see any redness, sores, or skin breakdown from the collar.
5. Remove the pads from the back panel.
6. Put a clean, dry pad against the plastic panel. 
7. Replace the back of the collar by centering the back collar piece against the back of your child’s neck.
8. Roll your child onto their back keeping the head and neck in a straight line.
9. Tighten the Velcro on both sides of the collar.  Tighten each strap one at a time to remove any slack. 
10. Your child’s head should be straight in line with their body and not tilted up or down, or side to side.
11. Wash all the dirty pads with soap and water.  Air dry before using again the next day.