Emergency Splinting

1
Emergency Splinting Bandaging and Taping
Techniques

• Chapter 7, pp194-199
• Chapter 11, pp259-279

2
Immediate Treatment of Orthopedic Injury

• One primary goal
• Reduction of swelling
• PRICE
• Protection
• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

3
Cold Application

• Decreases pain
• Produces vasoconstriction
• Controls hemorrhage and edema
• Decreases local cell metabolism
• Decreases tissues need for oxygen
• Reduces hypoxia
• Sensations- Cold, burning, aching, numb

4
Emergency Splinting

• Two vital principles
• Splint from one joint above the fracture to one
  joint below the fracture
• Splint the injury in the position it is found

5
Splints

• Vacuum splints
• Styrofoam chips contained inside an airtight
  cloth, pliable sleeve
• Molds to shape of injury using a handheld pump to
  draw out the air from within the sleeve
• Air splints
• Extremity splinting
• Provides clear view of injury during x-ray

6
Splinting

• Lower limb
• Fractures of knee, thigh, and hip require
  splinting of all limbs
• Upper limb
• Shoulder injuries are splinted in a sling
• Elbow injuries must be splinted in the position
  found
• Wrist injuries must be splinted in forearm
  flexion and should include a sling
• Fingers splinted with aluminum splints

7
Splinting
8
Bandaging and Taping

• Provides compression to minimize swelling in the
  initial management of injury
• Reduces the chances of injury by applying tape
  prophylactically
• Provides additional support to an injured
  structure

9
Elastic Bandages

• Most often used for compression for injuries
• Can be used to secure dressing for a wound
• Can also be used for cold application
• Can provide support to injured tissues

10
Technique for application

• Always begin distally and move proximally
• Wrap the body part in the position of maximum
  muscle contraction to ensure unhampered movement
  and circulation
• Use a larger number of turns with moderate
  tension than a limited number of turns and
  tighter
• Each turn of the bandage should be overlapped by
  at least one half to prevent separation of the
  material (can pinch and irritate skin)

11
Adhesive Taping

• Common techniques
• Arch
• Great Toe
• Toes
• Ankle- CLOSED BASKET WEAVE
• Achilles Tendon
• Knee
• Elbow
• Wrist
• Thumb
• Fingers