Rapid extrication from a car wreck.

Abstract

Extrication of entrapped patients from car accidents takes time. To save time a new technique based on reversing the forces of the original crash by anchoring the rear of the vehicle and pulling the steering wheel and the front window pillars forward with chains is developed. In an experimental randomised trial of extrication of volunteers from car wrecks after frontal/oblique impacts we wanted to evaluate the time spent with a new extrication technique (n=6) compared to standard (n=6). Main outcome measures were time to patient free and to patient on a stretcher. It took significantly longer (s) with the standard than the new technique to start extrication [(60 (45, 70) versus 30 (30, 40), confidence interval (CI) 5-40, P=0.009], to patient free in the front seat [514+/-102 versus 238+/-72, CI 163-389, P=0.001], backboard in place [543+/-102 versus 295+/-76, CI 132-363, P=0.001], and patient on the stretcher ready for transport to the hospital [617+/-112 versus 387+/-65, CI 112-347, P=0.001]. Avoiding uncontrolled movements in the wreck was not more difficult with the new than the standard technique.