New Edmonton Cervical Spine Board (NECs Board)- Pilot in Low Resource Settings

Neurosurgeon, Dr. Richard Fox developed an innovative, novel easy to use, portable and affordable spine board to stabilize and apply traction early on after a spinal cord injury. Early intervention through traction is known to provide better neurological and functional outcomes. Access to a neurosurgeon who can usually provide this intervention through surgery is not always available in low resources settings. Moreover, the NECs Board can provide traction during MRI and CT imaging, as well as during transport to a larger facility. The OGS is working with Dr. Fox’s team to pilot the NECs Board in rural Alberta and LMICs. This work is funded by a generous anonymous donor.