SPLINTING - LONG BONES & JOINTS

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Therapeutic Effects)

1. Reduce Pain

2. Prevent Further Injury

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Indications) 1

1. In a stable patient, any suspected fracture or dislocation of an extremity can be done on scene

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Indications) 2

2. In an unstable patient, splinting should be done while en-route to the hospital, when prioritization allows (typically during detailed assessment)

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Contraindications)

1. Splinting unstable patients on scene will delay transport

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Side Effects)

1. Possibility of neurovascular injury

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Rules of Splinting) Abbreviation

WINWISI

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Rules of Splinting) W

W- When splinting a JOINT:

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Rules of Splinting) I

I - Immobilize the bone above and the bone below the dislocation

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Rules of Splinting) N

N - Never attempt to realign a joint (dislocation)! Splint dislocation in position found.

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Rules of Splinting) W

W - When splinting a BONE:

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Rules of Splinting) I

I - Immobilize the joint above and the joint below the fractre.

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Rules of Splinting) S

S - Splint a fracture (bone) in the position found, UNLESS the extremity is pulseless cyanotic, and/or severely angulated. If so, attempt once to re-align it into a normal anatomical position, using gentle traction.

Splinting - Long Bones & Joints (Rules of Splinting) I

I - If resistance to the alignment is felt, stop, and splint it in the deformed position