Dr Gajraj Singh

MS Ortho. Consultant Surgeon Deptt of Orthopaedics LLRM Medical College Meerut

Hippocrates was born in Greece in 660 BC. He first described splinting of fracture

Splint is a device that is used to immobilise a part of the body

 Fractures
Sprains Joint infections

Tenosynovitis
Acute arthritis / gout Lacerations over joints

Puncture wounds and animal bites of

the hands or feet

(1.) Unconventional splint (2.) Conventional splint

Unconventional splints are crude, temporary and are used as a first aid measure. eg. BOOK, UMBRELLA, BOARD, WOOD, CRAMMER WIRE, etc

CRAMMER WIRE

It is foldable mesh material contours to the shape of the body. These wire splints are easy to cut and contour easily to the shape of the body.

Conventional splints are refined and sophisticated and serve both as first aid and definitive measures, eg.POP SPLINT, THOMAS SPLINT, BOHLAR-BRAUN SPLINT etc.,

 Plaster of Paris was first used in otthopaedics by

Mathysen, a Dutch surge on, in 1852. It is made from gypsum which is a naturally occuring mineral. It is commercially available since 1931. CaSO4.1/2 H2O + H2O ----->CaSO4.2H2O + Heat

Complications:-

 Burns

Pressure sores

Thermal injury as plaster dries Hot water, Increased number of layers, extra fast-drying, poor padding - all increase risk If significant pain - remove splint to cool

Smooth Webril and plaster well

Infection
Clean, debride and dress all wounds before splint application Recheck if significant wound or increasing pain

Ischemia

Reduced risk compared to casting but still a possibility Do not apply Webril and ace wraps tightly Instruct to ice and elevate extremity Close follow up if high risk for swelling, ischemia. When in doubt, cut it off and look Remember - pulses lost late.

Any complaints of worsening pain Take the splint off and look!

 Below elbow pop volar splint

Below elbow pop volar splint with thumb

extention Above elbow pop splint Above elbow pop splint with shoulder hood Shoulder spica Below knee pop splint Above knee pop splint Above knee cylinder pop splint

 It is the one of the most commonest splints used

in orthopaedic practice. It was device by H.O Thomas in 1876 as a Thomas knee splint for tuberculosis.

Indication:-

 It has a number of pulley over which the traction cord

passes while giving traction for different fracture. It is more convenient than Thomas splint because it has no ring. It has no in-built system of counter-traction so it is not suitable for transportation.

 Foam lined aluminum splint designed to immobilize

the injured finger or toe. Lightweight. Easy to cut and fold. No additional padding required

Thank you