1. Splinting

2. Splinting
Movement may worsen musculoskeletal injury and cause more pain
Splint injured arm or leg if risk of area being moved (unless help expected quickly)
Always splint an extremity before transporting victim

3. Splinting Helps prevent further injury Reduces pain
Minimizes bleeding and swelling

4. Types of Splints Rigid splints Soft splints
Air splints (inflatable splints)
Pneumatic splints
Anatomic splints

5. Rigid Splint Board Plastic or metal Rolled newspaper or magazine
Thick cardboard

6. Soft Splint Pillow Folded blanket or towel
Triangular bandage folded into sling

7. Anatomic Splint
Bandage injured leg or finger to uninjured one

8. Many commercial splints are available

9. Securing Splints Use bandages, strips of cloth, Velcro®
Use knots that can be untied
Don’t secure with tape

10. Guidelines for All Splints
Dress open wounds
Splint only if it doesn’t cause more pain
Splint in position found
Immobilize entire area
Pad between splint and skin

11. Guidelines for Slings
Use sling to prevent movement and to elevate extremity
Splint injury first
If you splint injury in position found and this position makes use of sling difficult – do not use sling

12. Guidelines for Slings continued
Do not move arm into position for sling if it causes pain
A cold pack can be used inside sling
Do not cover fingers inside sling

13. Applying Arm Sling and Swathe
Skill:
Applying Arm Sling and Swathe

14. Secure point of bandage at elbow.

15. Position triangular bandage.

16. Bring lower end of bandage to opposite side of neck.

17. Tie the ends.

18. Tie binder bandage over sling and around chest.

19. Shoulder Injuries Involve clavicle, scapula, or joint structures
Clavicle is most frequently fractured bone
Scapula fractures are rare
Shoulder dislocations are common

20. Splinting Shoulder Injuries
Goal is to stabilize area from trunk to upper arm
Use soft splint. Do not move extremity
Assess for circulation, sensation, and movement

21. Shoulder Injuries Pad hollow between body and arm
Apply sling and binder to support and immobilize arm
if this causes pain use larger soft splint

22. Upper Arm Injuries Immobilize humerus fractures with rigid splint
Treat fractures near shoulder with soft splint

23. Splinting Upper Arm Injuries
Stabilize bone between shoulder and elbow
Assess circulation, sensation, movement in hand/fingers
Apply rigid splint along outside of arm

24. Splinting Upper Arm Injuries continued
Tie above injury and at elbow
Support wrist with sling and wide swathe
If it causes pain to raise wrist for a sling, use long rigid splint

25. Elbow Injuries Sprains and dislocations are common
Fractures occur above or below elbow
Patient unable to move joint

26. Splinting Elbow Injuries
If elbow bent, apply rigid splint from upper arm to wrist
If more support needed, use sling at wrist and binder around chest

27. Splinting Elbow Injuries
If elbow straight, apply rigid splint from upper arm to hand
If more support needed, use binders around chest and upper arm and lower arm and waist