SplintER Series: Common ED Splint Techniques 104

Posted by William Denq, MD CAQ-SM on

The SplintER series is back with its fourth installment! In this series, we review splinting fundamentals, introduce advanced concepts, and highlight ways to implement these into your next shift. In this post, we summarize some of the most commonly deployed splints in the ED. Peer-reviewed by sports medicine experts (Dr. Kori Hudson and Dr. Anna Waterbrook), these injury-splint summary tables provide information on the origin, insertion, and positioning for each splint, along with the recommended number of layers of plaster.

Learning Objectives

  1. Review splint techniques associated with injuries commonly managed in the ED.
  2. Learn some basic tips to help with successful placement of these splints.

Upper Extremity1,2

Humerus

Fracture Splint Technique
Proximal humerus Cuff and collar (or sling)
Humeral shaft Coaptation
Supracondylar Long arm posterior or double sugar tong

Forearm

Fracture Splint Technique
Olecranon/coronoid Long arm posterior
Radius or ulna – proximal or midshaft Long arm posterior, or double sugar tong (if fracture is unstable or complex)

Radius – distal, isolated Thumb spica or volar

Radius or ulna – distal, complex Single or double sugar tong

Ulna – styloid Single sugar tong

Wrist and Hand

Fracture or Injury Splint Technique
Scaphoid, trapezium, or lunate fracture Thumb spica
Lunate dislocation Sugar tong
Triquetrum, pisiform, trapezoid, capitate, or hamate fracture Volar
Ulnar collateral ligament injury,
thumb MCP dislocation,
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
Thumb spica
1st metacarpal fracture Thumb spica
2nd or 3rd metacarpal fracture Volar or radial gutter

4th or 5th metacarpal fracture Ulnar gutter
1st phalanx fracture Thumb spica
2nd or 3rd proximal or middle phalanx fracture Radial gutter or buddy taping
4th or 5th proximal or middle phalanx fracture Ulnar gutter, or buddy taping (acceptable if the injury is a non-displaced fracture through the phalangeal shaft)

Distal phalanx fracture Aluminum U-shaped splint

Lower Extremity1

Tibia, Fibula, Ankle, and Foot

Fracture or Injury Splint Technique
Distal tibia or distal fibula fracture Posterior short leg (stirrup splint can be applied for additional stability)
Ankle sprain: Grade 2 or 3 Stirrup
Talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuboid, cuneiform fracture Posterior short leg
Metatarsal fracture Posterior short leg
Lisfranc fracture Posterior short leg

Expert Peer Review: Kori Hudson, MD


Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Georgetown University
Team Physician for Georgetown University
Consulting Physician for the Washington Capitals

Understanding proper splinting technique is a critical skill for all emergency physicians. Though many facilities have nurses and patient care technicians who may assist with splint application, the ultimate responsibility for proper splint application lies with the physician.

Critical Basics:

  1. Protect the skin: Head from splint activation can cause burns. Wrinkles in layers can cause friction, blisters, or infection.
  2. Ensure patients understand splint care: showering, weight bearing, unwrapping and re-wrapping if the splint feels too tight. Proper follow-up is critical.

Tricks of the Trade:

  1. Makeshift Cuff and Collar: Use a disposable wrist restraint to create this splint.
  2. How to avoid the mess of plaster: Before activation, layer plaster and place in a sleeve (stockinette). Place the sleeve into lukewarm water, and remove excess water by sliding the sleeve between your index and long finger. Mold the sleeve to the affected body part.
  3. Remember the equinus position: Utilize this for Dancer’s fractures and Achilles ruptures.

The most important advice: Practice splinting! Make your own splints and check the ones that nurses and technicians make for your patients. If it isn’t right, try making it again. In some cases, a bad splint may be worse than no splint at all!

Thanks to Dr. Anisha Molholtra for the professionally sketched splint images!

References

  1. Boyd A, Benjamin H, Asplund C. Splints and casts: indications and methods. Am Fam Physician. 2009;80(5):491-499. [PubMed]
  2. EBSCOhost Login . Metacarpal head fracture – emergency management. http://www.dynamed.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=DynaMed&id=903302. Published April 5, 2018. Accessed July 1, 2018.

Author information

William Denq, MD CAQ-SM

Assistant Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
University of Arizona

The post SplintER Series: Common ED Splint Techniques 104 appeared first on ALiEM.


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