Assignment: Splinting Extremities

Assignment: Splinting Extremities
Assignment: Splinting Extremities
Instructions/Questions:
Read Splinting Extremities in the textbook before starting the assignment. The answers for this assignment are in the textbook.
Q 1 – 4
What four reasons are given for splinting?
Q 5 – 7
In the Examples of Splints Fig. 16-1 what are the 3 types of splints?
Q 8
A ________ splint is almost always available because it uses the body itself as the splint.
Q 9
Before moving the victim, all fractures and dislocations should be ______.
Q 10
When applying a splint to an open wound, the first step is to ________.
Q 11
To determine what to splint, use the rule of_______.
Q 12 – 14
The acronym CSM represents _________, _________ and ____________.
Q 15 – 18
After the splint has been applied and CSM checked, use ______, _______, ______ and ______ on the injured part.
Q 19
Open, triangular bandages can be used as a _______ for injuries to the arm, wrist, clavicle, or shoulder areas.
Q 20
A ______ is used in conjunction with a sling to further stabilize the injured body part.
Q 21
In the case of a pelvis or hip fracture, treat for shock do not lift the legs and wait for EMS. Pelvis and hip fractures require the use of a ________ board
Q 22
Traction splints are seldom available except on ________ and require special training.
Q 23 – 25
If an injured knee is straight, splint it _______. If it is bent splint it _______. In the textbook illustrations, ______ bandages and a board are used to splint the knee.
Q 26 – 27
Treat ankle and foot injuries with the _______ procedures. To further stabilize, wrap a _________ around the ankle and foot and tie with cravats.
INTRODUCTION
The fundamental ideas, application methods, and descriptions of particular splints for the upper and lower extremities will be covered.
Closed reduction and casting are discussed separately for distal forearm fractures in children.
(See “Closed reduction and casting of children’s distal forearm fractures.”)
PRINCIPLES GENERAL
Splinting is used to treat musculoskeletal problems such as overuse and soft tissue injuries (such as tendinitis and sprains), as well as traumatic injuries such as limb fractures and joint dislocations.
Splinting an extremity can help to reduce pain and bleeding while also preventing future soft tissue, vascular, and neurologic damage [1-7].
Splinting may also be used to treat some injuries definitively [8-10].
Splints, as opposed to casts, allow for swelling and may help to prevent neurovascular damage.
In most circumstances, immediate splinting (as soon as feasible after the injury) is suggested.
Patient comfort and the chance of subsequent damage can be improved by paying close attention to detail and becoming familiar with effective splinting technique.
However, preliminary evidence suggests that many splints are put incorrectly, increasing the risk of damage.
In a prospective, observational study of 275 splints applied for pediatric fractures in emergency departments or urgent care centers, 93 percent were found to be incorrectly applied, with 77 percent of the splints having the elastic bandage applied directly to the skin, 59 percent with improper positioning, and 52 percent with an inappropriate splint length, most commonly too long and not allowing free range of motion.
In 40% of patients, skin or soft tissue problems occurred; the most common was severe edema (28 percent).
EQUIPMENT
Splints have historically been made of plaster of Paris, although several new forms of splinting materials have been available in recent years.
For practically every body component, they include pre-formed plaster, fiberglass, pre-padded fiberglass, malleable aluminum, air splints, vacuum splints, and pre-formed “off-the-shelf” splints.
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Review of the literature is up to date through February 2022. |
This page was last modified on June 3, 2021.
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