According to "Sheehy's Emergency Nursing Principles and Practice," immobilization of a broken bone with a splint should be done as soon as possible to prevent further damage or complications. Keeping broken bones stable will also provide comfort for the patient. A splint should cover the joints above and below the injury to provide the best stabilization. Fiberglass or plaster can be used to make a splint.
Sugar Tong Splint
A sugar tong splint can be used to treat upper arm, forearm and wrist fractures, notes the Skylark Medical Clinic. A sugar tong splint resembles the shape of tongs used to pick up cubes of sugar. For upper arm fractures, the plaster or fiberglass is formed from the axilla, or armpit, around the elbow and up the arm on the other side, ending at the height of the axilla. For wrist and forearm fractures, the splint starts in the crease of the palm, extending up to and around the elbow, then back to the knuckle area of the hand. Once the splint is formed to stabilize the fracture, the splint is wrapped with an elastic bandage to hold it in place.
Long Arm Splint
"UpToDate" indicates that a long arm splint, also called a posterior splint, can be used to splint a stable elbow or forearm fracture. A long arm splint only splints the posterior aspect of the extremity. This splint starts above the elbow and extends to the crease of the palm.
Volar Splint
A volar splint can be applied when there is a wrist fracture or a severe sprain. As noted in "UpToDate," the volar splint, also called a dorsal splint, is a short arm splint that starts in the crease of the palm and extends almost up to the elbow. This splint is not used for fractures of the forearm because it allows the patient to rotate his arm outside and inside, called supination and pronation.
Gutter Splint
A short arm gutter splint is used to stabilize a fracture called a boxer fracture, which is is a break in the bones that form the knuckles, most often those located at the ring finger and little finger. The splint starts at the mid forearm and extends down to stabilize the ring and little fingers.
References
- "Sheehy's Emergency Nursing Principles and Practice"; Mosby Elsevier; 2010
- Skylark Medical Clinic: Splinting Workshop
- "UpToDate": Splinting of Musculoskeletal Injuries
