***Leatt neck Brace for off-road motorcycle riders***

[SoCalGlenn]

The "Moto GPX" neck brace (www.leatt-brace.com) has really caught on in Southern California, especially in the off-road motorcycle racing scene.

There was recently a spinal injury in Nevada, in which the motorcycle rider was wearing the brace, and sustained a spinal injury to his lower thorax, resulting in partial paralysis. Word spread that he did not suffer any neck injuries, and ever since, the braces are flying off shelves.

This is the latest in a long line of neck-protection devices, which up till now have been marketed as "neck strain relievers". The Leatt brace was invented by a medical doctor, and claims it "helps reduce the risk" of spinal injuries when engaging in motorsports. This claim is backed purely off computer simulations and limited lab tests (no statistical research or injury data has been published).

My question for you folks is two-fold:

1) Do you EMT-Ps and others believe this product is effective?

2) How the heck do we provide spinal stabilization for patients wearing this device?

Any thoughts are appreciated, as my team will likely be seeing more patients wearing these in the coming months.

Glenn

NREMT-B

[Ridryder 911]

I believe it is as successful as thinking helmets will prevent head injuries, and pads will prevent fractures. Yes, it might reduce slightly, but actually prevent ... we will have to see.

R/r 911

[Just Plain Ruff]

I am a wait and see type of guy on this too.

How do you treat the patient if they ahve it on and you need to remove it? I think education needs to precede the adoption of this device.

We need to know how to remove it and not cause further injury.

[1EMT-P]

The device implies that it reduces the risk of injury, but without research data it's hard to say...

[dahlio]

Before I took a look at the product, I figured you could just cut it off with shears, hold manual stabilization, and apply a c-collar. This product is too much plastic for shears. If I were to encounter it tomorrow, I'd keep it in place, while using a Sam splint to make a make-shift c-collar on top of it. That's the best I could come up with, and I don't think I'd want to remove it, at least not without proper education. Speaking of which, if it does get popular enough, I agree, the proper method of stabilization does need to be taught to ems professionals.

[Timmy]

I haven’t had experience with that brand but generally they have a release pin on either side so it splits in half and slips off or you can adjust the size to make it bigger so it slips off over their head, some have cap screws, some have quick releases.. I think helmets and braces are good idea. Horses for coursers but sometimes I don’t take the helmet or braces off, if I see it’s providing pretty good support to the neck and head then why bother making more movement.

[SoCalGlenn]

I sure hope this product will reduce the risk of serious injury, and improve EMS care.

... sometimes I don’t take the helmet or braces off, if I see it’s providing pretty good support to the neck and head then why bother making more movement.

I usually try to remove the helmet on conscious patients, especially in cases when we may need access to the airway, or when the rider is wearing a helmet with no Camelback or chest protector (puts the c-spine at a very awkward upward angle for transport).

I wonder if the Leatt brace keeps the head and torso at the same height when supine? How do we know the brace/helmet combination is: (1) maintaining good alignment, and (2) preventing movement during transport? There appears to be a gap between the brace and the helmet, by design, for the comfort of the rider...

Regarding the effectiveness of the brace, here are some things the riders have been saying:

"I just feel way more confident when I ride as well"

"I'd feel like a complete jackass if I were to sustain a serious neck injury and wasn't wearing a brace (or) vice (versa) if I had one on and still suffered the same injuries."

"No crashes yet with the brace on, so I can't comment on that."

"I will not ride again until I have one"

"My son now owns one as well and will wear it no matter what"

"After reading the discription of the accident and (hearing) Chris's feelings on the performance of the Leatt Brace he was wearing and the possibility that it prevented further injuries; I bought mine this weekend"

"He truly feels this thing saved his life"

"We need to wear them always. We are setting an example."

"Just a three word reminder to everyone out there: Leatt Neck Brace"

"I'm sure there are others out there like me that are kinda freaked out about riding/racing without a Leatt brace."

"I will never run with out it again just like a helmet"

"I run it and love it... made a few mods to make it work better with a chest protector"

"For scientific purposes, I fell down on Sat and face planted myself on a big rock and the brace did just what it was supposed to. My self respect was damamged but my neck felt fine."

"Check out their website. Once you watch the videos of the testing dummies crashing, you'll see why the foam neck braces aren't worth a darn"

"John was injured last year while racing a local MX ... and seriously broke his back into paralysis, but through surgery and time, has now gained feeling and control and is able to gently ride a mountain bike and walk with only a small amount of pain. John was wearing his Danais road racing back brace at the time of his injury, that he has used for many years both speedway and jet ski racing, even on a motocross courses"

"Both Danny & John are now pushing rider neck and back protective systems, and are trying to push for a requirement for younger riders that race to use these systems. Just last weekend, over half of the AMA Supercross lite racers are now wearing neck systems and all of the KTM factory racers are now required to use them as well."

"This looks awesome for racers that have suffered C spin injuries."

"I believe this brace is like a seatbelt in a car...99% of the time it will prevent major injuries, but in rare cases it may attribute to the injury."

Here is a list of professional motocross racers who have sustained spinal cord injuries lately, and a very interesting video from the latest casualty, urging riders to adopt the brace:

"Everyone needs to watch this! David knows what he's talking about and I think I can add my stamp of approval is well. Nobody wants to end up in a chair unable to move your own bowels without someone else's assistance like I do now!

The list is getting far too long:

David Bailey

Doug Henry

Jeremy McGrath

Ernesto Fonseca

James Marshall

Jimmy Button

Here's the link:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...71359427789623

[Richard B the EMT]

My question for you folks is two-fold:

1) Do you EMT-Ps and others believe this product is effective?

2) How the heck do we provide spinal stabilization for patients wearing this device?

1) It might reduce injuries, but as others have pointed out, might create newer patient handling problems.

2) Very carefully!

Real answer for 2) Food for thought: Ask doctors who specialize in motorcycle and motor-cross sports injuries, who are familiar with your protocols for handling spinal injuries, to help design newer protocols for dealing with injuries gotten when the newer "protective gear" is being used. If possible, get a "research and development" tech from the manufacturer to also assist in the creation of the new protocols.

[Just Plain Ruff]

I like the device but it does look like it would provide some new challenges on patient spinal immobilization.

Education as always is key here.

[dahlio]

I usually try to remove the helmet on conscious patients, especially in cases when we may need access to the airway, or when the rider is wearing a helmet with no Camelback or chest protector (puts the c-spine at a very awkward upward angle for transport).

Why not void all the space to keep it inline.