Splinting in first aid

suuporting a limb with sprain, strain, dislocation or fracture

1. SPLINTING Sharon Treesa Antony Assistant Professor Govt. College of Nursing Kottayam

2. The splints are devices or means used temporarily for immobilizing or supporting fractured bones or injured joints prior to hospitalization or seeking medical help. They are mainly applied for fractures, sprains, strains or dislocations.

3. Purposes To immobilize a fractured or injured body part prior to hospitalization To prevent injury to blood vessels and nerves from jagged edges of the bone To reduce pain induced by fracture To manage sprains and strains

4. General rules The splint should be large enough to cover the joint above and below the fracture It should be wide enough to support the area It should be well padded to prevent injury to the limb It should applied without interference with circulation I t may be applied over clothing or may be applied with a cloth over the skin Splints may be improvised from piece of wood, card board, thick folded paper, sticks etc The body parts of the casualty itself can be used for the purpose. ( 1. in case of injured lower limb, uninjured limb may be used as a splint, 2. for upper limb fracture, the trunk of the victim can be utilized as a splint)

5. Basswood splints

6. Splinting fractures of upper limb Place a pad in the axilla to prevent pressure on blood vessels and nerves. Place two padded splints , one in inner aspect (medial) and the other on the outer ( lateral) aspect of the arm. Secure padded splints in position with triangular bandages ( folded as cravats) or with roller bandage. Place forearm in sling to prevent movement.

7. Splinting for fractures at or near elbow Keep the arm at approximately 45 degree angle from the body Apply padded splint to medial surface of the arm just below axilla to wrist Apply another padded splint to lateral surface of the arm extending from shoulder to wrist Secure splints in position with triangular bandages ( folded as cravats) or with roller bandage

8. Fracture of forearm, wrist hand Place padded splints on the medial and lateral aspect of the forearm, wrist and hand Secure with triangular bandages/ roller bandage Place splinted arm in sling with the hand several inches above the level of the elbow

9. Splinting fractures of lower extremities Can be splinted with the unaffected limb Padded wooden piece can be used

10. Improvised splints and slings for upper extremities

11. Improvised splints and slings for upper extremities

12. THANK YOU