[Is the malleable mattress harmful for the spinal cord?].

When the inside pressure of mouldable mattress is lowered isotropic deformation can be harmful for spinal cord. The axial force is measured placing stress gauge in a metallic manikin and in corpse (T2-L1), then on the cephalic top of volunteers. When soles and head are included in an usual mattress, during the retraction stress values raise up to 484 N at 262 mbar for manikin, to 150 N at 315 mbar for corpse, to 102 N at 310 mbar for cephalic top of the volunteers. In comparison, a prototype was tested. Results were improved on metallic models but not on human corpses or volunteers. This test allowed us a better understanding of the mechanism of the stress. It is possible to propose precautionary measures during patient immobilization (to provide a space between soles, head and mattress) and to build a new stressless mattress.