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P

T
N
I
L
Presented by:
Aleen Mary Alex.
2nd Year B.B.Sc.
Nursing,
F.I.N.

DEFINITION

SPLINTS
ARE
USED
TEMPORARILY TO SUPPORT
OR
IMMOBILIZE
INJURED
PARTS
OF
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM.

A SPLINT IMMOBILIZES AND


SUPPORTS AN INJURED BODY
PART IN A FUNCTIONAL
POSITION.
SPLINTS ARE USED FOR
IMMOBILISING FRACTURES
EITHER TEMPORARILY
DURING TRANSPORTATION

PURPOSES

To maintain immobilisation
of an injured part.
To prevent or to correct a
deformity as well as to
support a weak muscle.

To protect bone or
other tissues by
preventing the
movement of
fragments during the
healing
To applyphase.
traction and maintain
reduction of bone.
To relieve pain and muscle
spasm.

To replace plaster casts.


To maintain a body part in its
functional position.
To prevent complications of
a fracture.

TYPES
OF
SPLINTS

CRAMER-WIRE
SPLINT

Emergency immobilisation

THOMAS SPLINT

Fracture of femur

BOHLER BRAUN
SPLINT

Fracture of femur

ALUMINIUM
SPLINT

Immobilisation of fingers

DENNIS BROWN
SPLINT

CTEV(Congenital Talipes
Equinovarus)

COCK UP SPLINT

Radial Nerve Palsy

KNUCKLE BENDER
SPLINT

Ulnar Nerve Palsy

TOE RAISING
SPLINT

Foot Drop

VOLKMANNS SPLINT

Volkmanns Ischaemic
Contracture

FOUR POST
COLLAR

Neck Immobilisation

AEROPLANE
SPLINT

Brachial Plexus Injury

SOMI BRACE

Cervical Spine Injury

TAYLORS BRACE

Dorso-Lumbar Spinal
Immobilisation

MILWAUKEE BRACE

Scoliosis

LUMBAR CORSET

Backache

DESCRIPTION

STRAIGHT SPLINT
I. It is a rectangular wooden splint
which is well padded.
II. It is widely used in the hospital
situation to support and
immobilise the limbs.

THOMAS SPLINT

I. It is a traction splint used for


immobilisation of suspected or
diagnosed fractures of the shaft of
the femur.
II.It is also used in combination of
skeletal or skin traction.

BRAUNS SPLINT

I. It is a metal frame which rests on the


bed and supports the leg with knee
partly flexed.
II.There is a pulley at the end for traction
purpose.
III.It is used for the fracture of the lower
leg and the femur just above the knee.

INTERNAL SPLINTING
I. There are some fractures which are
treated by a rigid fixation directly
across the fracture line from one
fragment to another.
II. With this fixation there is a marked
decrease in the period of
immobilisation and hospitalisation.

CERVICAL COLLARS
I.

These are supportive appliances applied


around the neck.

II. They are used to immobilise the neck in


suspected cervical spine fractures, to
relieve muscle spasm and to support
the head in degenerative diseases of
the cervical vertebrae, after surgery or
trauma.

PLASTER OF PARIS SLABS


I. These are the least expensive of these
materials used to form a rigid,
contoured splint and can be accurately
moulded to provide the best support.
II. However, splints made of plaster are
heavy, easily cracked or broken and
are difficult to keep clean.

NURSING
DIAGNOSIS

Acute pain.
Self-care deficit.
Altered body image.
Knowledge deficit.
Risk of peripheral neurovascular
dysfunction.
Risk of impaired skin integrity.

NURSING
RESPONSIBILITIES

Nurse has to ensure that:-

Splints are applied on the part in its


functional position.
Bony prominences and skin surfaces
are separated and padded so that
maceration of tissues due to
moisture is avoided.
The part distal to the area to be splinted
is left exposed so as to assess the

The joint above and below the


involved area are to be immobilised.
Splint must always be well padded
with cotton wool or rag pieces.
Splints must be light in weight but
must be firm enough to give support
to the full length of the part.

Splint must be long and wide to give


support to the full length of the
immobilised part.
Pressure points of the client should
be well cared of, it should be
frequently inspected.
Clients with splints with limited
activity needs frequent change in
position unless contraindicated.

PATIENT
EDUCATION

Educate the client to:

Elevate his injured arm or leg, above his


heart by propping it upon pillow or some
other support.
Recline if splint is on his leg.
Move his uninjured, but swollen finger or
toes gently and often.
Keep the splint dry.
Keep dirt, sand or other debris away from

Do not pull out the padding from the splint.


Inspect the skin around the splint.
Inspect the splint regularly for any of its
damage.
Inform the concerned physician, if the patient
experiences increased pain and swelling,
itching, numbness, tingling sensation, loss of
active movement of toes or fingers.

SUMMARY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Maheshwari J. (2001). Essential Orthopaedics. 4th


Edition.
New Delhi. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.
Davis P. Kneale J. (2009). Orthopaedic And Trauma
Nursing.
2nd Edition. U.K. Churchill Livingstone Publishers.
Timby K.B. Smith E.N. (2007). Introductory
Medical Surgical Nursing. 9th Edition. Philadelphia.
Lippincott Wilsons And Wilkins.
Inamdar M. (2013). Textbook Of Fundamentals Of
Nursing. 2nd Edition. Volume 2. Mumbai. Vora
Medical Publications.

Website
s
(2007).Splint(medicine).wikipedia retrieved
from
en.m.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Splint_(Medicine)#
Commonly_used_splints
(2013).8 Fracture Nursing Care Plans.
nurseslabs retrieved from
nurseslabs.com/8-fracture-nursing-care-plans/

ASSIGNMENT

Differentiate between plaster casts and


splints.
Elaborate two priority nursing
diagnosis.

THANK
YOU

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