BC Provincial Examination Guidelines - Fracture Management: Traction Splint

Vocabulary flashcards covering indications, guidelines, procedure steps, and the STAPLES mnemonic for traction splinting.

Indication for Traction Splint

Suspected mid-shaft femur fractures in stable patients.

Cold Application Protocol (Traction Splinting)

Apply ice on for $10\,\text{minutes}$ and off for $5\,\text{minutes}$, if appropriate.

Patient Positioning for Traction Splinting

Ensuring the patient is supine with the injured leg in line with the body.

STAPLES Mnemonic

A mnemonic for Sager Splints application representing Size, Thigh, Ankle, Padding, Lbs., Elevate, and Straps.

Ankle Harness Placement (Sager Splint)

Application of the ankle harness above the malleoli.

Traction Rule (Once Applied)

Once traction is applied, do NOT release traction.

Closed Mid-Shaft Femur Fracture Traction Weight

Application of traction equal to $10\%$ of the patient's body weight, up to a maximum of $15\,\text{lbs.}$ ($7\,\text{kg}$).

Open Mid-Shaft Femur Fracture Traction Weight

Application of traction up to a maximum of $5\,\text{lbs.}$

Sager Splint Elevation

Elevating the bottom of the Sager splint to align it neutral with the leg (a shoe under the wheel works well).

Sager Splint Leg Stabilization

Stabilizing the limb to the splint using three elasticized straps, placing a blanket between the legs, and strapping the legs together.

Traction Reassessment Requirement

Reassessing and correcting traction if necessary with each movement or reassessment of ABC's or vitals.