A splint is a kind of splint or a special clamp that helps secure the affected area in a stationary state. It fixes bone fragments, muscles, and joints in a certain position.
Wearing the product is prescribed for various limb injuries. The splint can be made of different materials - plaster, metal, plastic and others. There are splints, splints and products fixed with bandages. Unlike plaster, this immobilizing device is applied only to the damaged area, leaving the fingers exposed.
Before applying the splint to the arm, cover the affected part of the hand with Vaseline. A bandage soaked in warm water is applied to the hand. The surface of the product must be flat and smooth to avoid complications.
Features of the technique
A plaster splint is applied for significant bruises and ligament damage. It is also used after the reduction of joints in case of dislocations, as well as for various types of fractures. If there are contraindications to the application of blind plaster, this technique is also used. For this purpose, a special room is allocated in surgical departments. It contains the necessary materials and equipment for the procedure.
Applying a plaster splint has a number of advantages. It fits tightly and evenly to the body, is easily removed and hardens very quickly. If there are fragments that have been compared by a surgeon or traumatologist, the splint will hold them well.
Gypsum is calcium sulfate. It is well dried at a temperature of 100 to 130 ºС. Thanks to this, the material grinds well, forming a white powder. Gypsum is a hydrophilic substance. To prevent it from becoming saturated with moisture, it is stored in a well-closed container made of metal or glass.
It is best to use M400 grade gypsum for medical purposes. It hardens in 10 minutes. at a temperature of 15 ºС. This period is reduced to 4 minutes if the room temperature is 40 ºC. The quality of gypsum is checked using a series of tests. The powder should be evenly and finely ground. When mixed with water, the smell of hydrogen sulfide should not be released.
General information
The splint is used in medicine in the treatment of simple limb injuries, as well as sprains of muscles, ligaments and dislocations of joints. Its peculiarity is that it is very simply applied to the limb, in contrast to a plaster cast, the application of which requires certain skills. A splint is often used to treat a fracture of the wrist bone.
If the patient has a fracture without displacement of the bones, the doctor will apply a bandage to fix the bone.
Duration of wearing is about 4-6 weeks. If the injury is displaced, then before applying a splint, the bone fragments are connected. Surgery may be required to connect the bone processes with wires. The period of wearing a splint in such cases depends on the nature of the damage and the rate of healing of the bone tissue.
Varieties
Plaster splint can be of two types:
- Bandage lined with cotton wool and gauze, flannel, knitwear. Has certain disadvantages. The cotton wool or fabric may bunch up, putting pressure on the body. Insufficient fixation of fragments may also occur. It is best to use knitwear when applying such a bandage. They protect the skin from abrasions.
- Unlined bandage. Apply directly to the skin. It is not lubricated with anything, the hair is not shaved off. It is important to protect protruding parts of the body from pressure.
How to apply a splint
Applying a splint to the arm is a responsible matter, since inept fixation can lead to serious complications.
The gypsum used plays an important role - the higher its quality, the better it mixes with liquid and becomes solid. The quality of gypsum can be checked as follows: the powder is mixed with water until the consistency of thick sour cream is obtained, then the hardening time is checked, it should be about 15 minutes.
To prepare the product, the work table is covered with a special oilcloth, gypsum powder is sifted onto it, a wide bandage is placed on top, then another layer of plaster. The bandage is placed in a basin with warm water. After the plaster has absorbed enough water, the bandage is squeezed out and laid out on the table surface.
The required number of dressings (on average, 6 pieces) are made immediately. Before application, the bandages are smoothed and checked for unevenness and folds on the surface, since even the slightest fold when the plaster dries can lead to the development of complications, including necrosis of the skin of the limb.
To apply the splint, the patient’s skin is generously lubricated with Vaseline so that it can be easily removed in the future.
In case of injury to the ulna or wrist joint of a limb, a bandage is applied to the outer surface of the arm for two-thirds of its length. The arm should be fixed in a bent position, the elbow should be at an angle of 90 degrees. In case of a fracture, the bones must be anatomically correctly aligned, and the joint must be set back in place if it is dislocated.
Bandage bandages are applied very carefully without the use of force, one on top of the other, giving the product the shape of a limb, while the fingers are not fixed. You can place cotton wool under the edges of the cast to prevent the skin from rubbing when touching the cast. The last step in applying a splint is fixing it with a bandage after the bandage has hardened.
How to apply it to your finger
In a similar way, a splint is applied to a finger, and the number of layers in such a bandage is 5-6. After applying a bandage, especially a splint on the wrist for wrist injury, the condition of the skin of the fingers is checked after fixation.
Read also: Traditional recipes for treatment and recovery after fractures
If the fixation is too tight, the blood supply may be disrupted and sensitivity may be lost. In this case, to avoid the development of complications, the splint is loosened or a new one is applied.
Overlay procedure
An arm or leg in a cast, healing correctly and in a timely manner. To do this, it is important to adhere to the established methodology:
- The patient is placed or seated in a comfortable position.
- Part of the body is placed on a stand, and the protruding areas are covered with cotton-gauze pads.
- The bandage with plaster is guided in a spiral, avoiding tension. The material is not torn off from the surface so that folds do not form. The layers are smoothed with the palm of your hand.
- Above the fracture site, it is necessary to additionally strengthen the bandage with rounds consisting of 6-12 layers of bandage.
- The fingers of the limb are left open. Their appearance is used to judge blood circulation.
- The edges of the bandage are trimmed, tucking them outward. The roller is smoothed with plaster slurry.
- The date of plaster application is written on the bandage.
- The bandage is not covered for 3 days. The patient should know how to handle the dressing until the material is completely dry. Otherwise, he may harm himself by ruining the fixation material.
Some types of dressings
- Removable-fixed. It is used when necessary to monitor the wound and carry out regular therapeutic manipulations at the fracture site.
- Finished. It differs from the longitudinal-circular one by the presence of a “window”. For example, at the site of the fracture, atheroma removal with a laser or another procedure must be urgently performed. In this case, this area is left open.
- With a stirrup. A metal pad that is added when a cast is applied to the leg: thus, the structure is protected from damage when walking.
Upper limbs
If damage is detected on the shoulder and shoulder joint, two Turner plaster splints are used. They are also called "crow's nest". The first part is applied from the scapula along the outer side of the limb. The back bandage is carried from the forearm to the heads of the finger bones. The second splint is applied to the first, and then it is distributed along the anterior surface. Secure the bandage with a regular bandage.
The elbow joint can be immobilized using one or two splints. They are applied from the upper third of the shoulder surface along both surfaces or only on top.
The forearm is immobilized using two plaster splints. They are applied from the middle part of the shoulder to the metacarpal bones. In this case, you need to control the position of the forearm. It should be between pronation and supination. The joint should form a right angle. In this case, the hand is placed in the position of dorsal flexion. It is checked whether the patient is comfortable in this position.
If the injury occurs on the hand, a splint is applied over the surface of the palm to a third of the forearm.
Types of splints
In traumatology and orthopedics, the most common types of splints are:
- Fixed with bandages. They come in plaster, plastic and fabric. The main function of such devices is to support the upper limbs. They are also applied to the hand for cracks and sprains.
- A splint is a splint for fixing a finger. A frame structure made of solid polymer or other materials, covered with a waterproof material on top. Fastening to the hand is carried out by clamps: special Velcro or fasteners.
- A splint is a structure that fixes a joint during a fracture and also helps support it during the recovery period. Based on the degree of fixation, there are soft splints (slightly limit the movement of the joint, used during the rehabilitation period), semi-rigid (distribute the load on the joint, used by athletes during training), and hard (analogous to a plaster cast).
Lower limbs
The plaster splint for a tibia fracture is U-shaped. Immobilization is carried out to the upper third of this part of the limb. In this case, the bandage should cover the splint on the sole.
If the knee joint is injured, two bandages are applied to the sides. They start from a third of the thigh and follow to the lower 1/3 of the lower leg.
If it is necessary to immobilize the forefoot, apply a posterior plantar bandage. It is carried from the fingers to the lower 1/3 of the shin.
In some cases, it is necessary to use special circular dressings. They are designed to immobilize different parts of the musculoskeletal system.
Difference from plaster cast
A splint is an alternative to a conventional plaster cast. It is quite heavy on the hand, and especially on the fingers. If a hand is damaged, unlike plaster, which covers it completely, a splint is applied only to the damaged part, while the fingers remain free and mobile.
If there is pressure on the vessels, you can loosen the fixation yourself. It is also very easy to remove. An important advantage of the splint is the fact that when used, soft tissues are not compressed, which avoids disruption of blood flow. By removing the splint, you can monitor the condition of the skin of the injured limb.
Read also: How and when to remove a coccyx cyst
Ready-made splints are often used in traumatology. It could be:
- a wide bandage, spilled with plaster inside,
- a plastic product (requires preheating) a thermoplastic bandage that is applied in the form of a plastic mass according to the shape of the limb.
When using a plastic-based option, rapid cooling of the mass helps to properly fix the damaged area. This type of splint is easy to use, does not cause allergies, and is moisture resistant.
Depending on the severity of the injury, a plastic splint can be used, consisting of two plates secured to the injured limb with bandages.
Splints are also made from fabric, which allows the victim to select the appropriate size of the product. Such bandages are called orthoses. These are devices that fix the wrist and metacarpophalangeal joint of the upper limb. Orthoses are used in the treatment of damaged ligaments, joints, and soft tissues to fix the arm in case of minor injuries, and also as a rehabilitation bandage after removal of the cast.
Some recommendations
You need to prepare in advance everything you need to apply a plaster splint. The bone and several adjacent joints are fixed. If damage is diagnosed in one joint, it is applied to it and a sufficient length of the limb. It is important to give the immobilized limb a position that is advantageous from a functional point of view.
When applying a bandage, part of the body must remain absolutely motionless. It is unacceptable for the patient to move during the procedure.
Bandaging is carried out from the periphery towards the central part. The material must not be bent. If necessary, it is trimmed, changing the direction of travel, and then straightened. After each layer, the dressing is carefully modeled and rubbed in. This way the material adheres well, and the bandage will exactly match the contours of the body. You need to support the limb with your entire palm. It is unacceptable to use only your fingers for this.
It is important that the plaster is not too tight or, conversely, loose. To avoid damaging the bandage (which happens especially often in children), it is coated with shellac or a solution of this material with alcohol.
Bandages are prepared in advance, guided by the length of the limb. It is folded loosely, and then soaked and smoothed by weight. At the bends, the material is cut and one part of the material is placed on top of the other.
Consequences
Wearing a splint cannot always completely eliminate the consequences of damage. In rare cases, it happens that the bones do not heal or grow together incorrectly, and a false joint or swelling occurs. Such consequences are associated mainly with non-compliance with the rules of wearing a splint, as well as with the doctor’s instructions.
After removing the product, to restore the functionality of the hand, you should develop the limb with special gymnastics, attend physical procedures, and make compresses using medications and traditional medicine.
