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Emergency Medicine & First Aid vocabulary · Burns, Fractures and Sprains

Immobilize

Meaning in emergency medicine & first aid, with examples

/ɪˈmoʊbəlaɪz/verbCommon term

In emergency medicine & first aid, immobilize means: To keep an injured part of the body from moving, using a splint, sling, collar or stretcher, to reduce pain and further damage.

In Turkish: sabitlemek, hareketsiz hale getirmek, immobilize etmek

How it is used

You immobilize a limb, a fracture or the spine. The noun is 'immobilization': spinal immobilization, fracture immobilization. The British spelling is 'immobilise'. Many services now say 'spinal motion restriction' instead of full spinal immobilization.

Example sentences

  1. We immobilized the leg with a vacuum splint before moving him.

  2. Immobilize the wrist and send her for an X-ray.

Common collocations

  • immobilize a fracture
  • immobilize the spine
  • spinal immobilization
  • fully immobilized
  • splintA rigid or padded support fastened along an injured limb to stop it moving, reduce pain and prevent further damage.
  • slingA piece of cloth tied around the neck that supports an injured arm, wrist or shoulder and keeps it still.
  • cervical collarA firm, adjustable collar fitted around the neck to limit movement when a neck or spinal injury is suspected.
  • spinal injuryDamage to the bones of the spine or to the spinal cord inside them, which can cause pain, numbness, weakness or paralysis below the injury.

More terms: Burns, Fractures and Sprains

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.