An Excerpt from the course on Fractures and Dislocations

Splints come in many types. Rigid splints are made from firm material and applied to the sides, front, and backside of an injured extremity. This splint prevents any motion on the injury site but may require padding.

Use this splint when the deformity is severe and when you encounter resistance or extreme pain reaction while applying traction to the shaft of a long bone.

Formable splints are pre-contoured, inflatable, and clear plastic splints that provide comfort to the patient and have uniform contact throughout the injured area. It applies firm pressure to a bleeding wound and is often used to stabilize injuries below the elbow or knee.

While using these splints, remember that the zipper can clog with dirt, freeze, or stick. Also, significant changes in the weather or altitude can affect the air pressure in the splint.

The third type of splint is the traction splint, used primarily to secure femur fractures. The idea of this splint is to pull a body structure towards its normal alignment, which is why it’s best used to stabilize fracture fragments, align the limb sufficiently, and avoid potential neurovascular compromise.

The amount of traction applied should be roughly about 10 percent of the patient’s body weight, not exceeding 15 pounds.