Splinting

Types

• Hand
  • Buddy tape splint
  • Finger splint
• Arm
  • Double sugar tong splint
  • Forearm volar splint‎
  • Long arm posterior splint
  • Radial gutter splint
  • Sling and swathe splint
  • Sugar tong splint
  • Thumb spica splint
  • Ulnar gutter splint
• Leg
  • Stirrup splint
  • Posterior ankle splint
  • Long leg posterior splint

Upper Extremity

Humerus

Fracture	Splint	Disposition
Humeral shaft fracture	U-shaped coaptation splint (upper arm sugar-tong splint) + sling and swathe
Supracondylar fracture	Long Arm Posterior Splint	Ortho consult for Type 2 or 3
Humeral condyle fracture	Long Arm Posterior Splint	ortho for ORIF if displaced
Olecranon fracture	Nondisplaced Sling and Swathe Splint Displaced Long Arm Posterior Splint or emerg. ORIF

Forearm

Fracture	Splint	Disposition
Radial head fracture	Nondisplaced Sling and Swathe Splint Displaced Long Arm Posterior Splint or emerg. ORIF
Monteggia fracture-dislocation (ulnar shaft w/prox radioulnar disloc)		Emergent ortho for ORIF
Galeazzi fracture (distal radius w/distal ulnar disloc)		Emerg. ortho for ORIF
Elbow dislocation	Long arm posterior splint after reduction	If associated fracture emergent ortho consult
Forearm fracture	Sugar Tong Splint
Colle's fracture (distal radius with dist dorsal angulation)	Sugar Tong Splint
Smith fracture (reverse colles w/ volar angulation)	Sugar Tong Splint

Hand

Fracture	Splint	Disposition
Flexor tendon injury	Finger Splint	hand specialist referral
Extensor tendon injury	Poss ED repair + Finger Splint	hand specialist referral
Mallet finger	Finger Splint to DIP (DIP in slight hyperextension)
Metacarpophalangeal ulnar ligament rupture (Gamekeeper's thumb)	Thumb Spica Splint
Scaphoid fracture	Thumb Spica Splint
Carpal fracture	Volar Splint
Bennet's fracture (intrarticular fracture at base of 1st MCP)	Thumb Spica Splint
Rolando's fracture (comminuted base of 1st MCP)	Thumb Spica Splint
Boxer's fracture	Ulnar Gutter Splint
4th and 5th MCP fracture	Ulnar Gutter Splint
2nd and 3rd MCP fracture	Radial Gutter Splint
Finger (Phalanx) Fracture	Finger Splint or Buddy Tape

Lower Extremity

Leg

Fracture	Splint	Disposition
Tibial plateau fracture	Knee immobilizer	Ortho referral in 2-7d
Tibial shaft fracture	Long leg posterior splint
Pilon Fracture	Long leg posterior splint
Maisonneuve Fracture	Long leg posterior splint
Ankle fracture	Posterior ankle splint
Foot and toe fractures	Posterior ankle splint

Foot and toe fractures

Fracture	Splint	Disposition
Talus fracture	Posterior ankle splint
Calcaneus fracture	Posterior ankle splint
Lisfranc injury	Posterior ankle splint
Navicular fracture	Posterior Ankle Splint
Cuboid fracture	Posterior Ankle Splint
Cuneiform fracture	Posterior Ankle Splint
Fifth metatarsal fracture Jones	Posterior Ankle Splint	Ortho f/u 3-5D
Non-fifth metatarsal fracture	Posterior Ankle Splint	Ortho f/u 2-3 days
Toe Fracture	Posterior Ankle Splint

See Also

Fracture management overview

• Upper extremity
  • Humerus
  • Forearm
  • Carpals
  • Hand
• Torso
  • Chest
  • Spine
  • Pelvis
• Lower extremity
  • Femur
  • Distal leg
  • Foot
• Other
  • Pediatric
  • Fractures (main)

• Fractures