Posterior ankle splint: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Posterior Ankle Splint.gif|thumb]]
[[File:Posterior Ankle Splint.gif|thumb]]


*Assess distal pulse, motor, and sensation
{{Splint Application General Procedure}}
*Apply padding and splint material (e.g. Ortho-glass) as shown
 
===Splint-Specific Details===
*Apply padding and splint material as shown in figure
**If patient can tolerate prone position and flexing knee to 90 degrees, will help with placement
**If patient can tolerate prone position and flexing knee to 90 degrees, will help with placement
*Splint course:
**Splint should run from plantar surface of the great toe or metatarsal heads along the posterior lower leg and ends 2 inches distal to the fibular head to avoid compression of the common peroneal nerve <ref name="Splints and Casts: Indications and Methods"> Splints and Casts: Indications and Methods http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0901/p491.html Accessed April 5, 2017</ref>
*Key anatomic positions
**Flex ankle to 90 degrees unless Achilles tendon rupture
**Flex ankle to 90 degrees unless Achilles tendon rupture
**Splint should run from plantar surface of the great toe or metatarsal heads along the posterior lower leg and ends 2 inches distal to the fibular head to avoid compression of the common peroneal nerve <ref name="Splints and Casts: Indications and Methods"> Splints and Casts: Indications and Methods
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0901/p491.html Accessed April 5, 2017</ref>
*Maintain position until splint material hardens and secure to leg (e.g. ace wraps)
*Reassess distal pulse, motor, and sensation


==See Also==
==See Also==

Revision as of 22:14, 13 September 2023

Background

  • Also know as "Short-Leg Posterior Splint"
  • Adding a coaptation splint (i.e., combining with an ankle stirrup splint) eliminates inversion / eversion
    • Especially useful for unstable fracture and sprains

Indications

Procedure

Posterior Ankle Splint.gif

Splint Application General Procedure

  • Assess pre-procedure neurovascular status (i.e., distal pulse, motor, and sensation) [1]
  • Measure and prepare the splinting material
    • May use contralateral extremity if easier
    • Most splints use a width slightly greater than the diameter of the limb
  • Apply stockinette (if applicable)
    • Extend 2" beyond estimated the splinting material length
  • Apply padding (if applicable)
    • Use 2–3 layers over the area to be splinted / between digits (when applicable)
    • Add an extra 2–3 layers over bony prominences
  • Apply splinting material
    • Lightly moisten the splinting material.
    • Place as appropriate to specific splint type
    • Once finished, if applicable fold the ends of stockinette back over the splinting material if there is excess
  • Apply elastic bandaging (e.g., ace wrap)
  • While still wet
    • May further mold the splint to the desired shape
    • Maintain position until splint material has hardened
  • Re-check and document repeat neurovascular status

Splint-Specific Details

  • Apply padding and splint material as shown in figure
    • If patient can tolerate prone position and flexing knee to 90 degrees, will help with placement
  • Splint course:
    • Splint should run from plantar surface of the great toe or metatarsal heads along the posterior lower leg and ends 2 inches distal to the fibular head to avoid compression of the common peroneal nerve [1]
  • Key anatomic positions
    • Flex ankle to 90 degrees unless Achilles tendon rupture

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Splints and Casts: Indications and Methods. http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0901/p491.html Accessed April 5, 2017 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Splints and Casts: Indications and Methods" defined multiple times with different content
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