Orthopedic Splinting Basics: AO Splint, Sugar Tong Splint, Thumb Spica Splint

This video reviews the basics of splint application for orthopedic extender staff. We demonstrate the application of an AO splint, sugar tong splint, and thumb spica splint.
Video produced by / dylanlowemd
00:00 Introduction
04:37 AO Splint
07:25 Sugar Tong Splint
09:03 Thumb Spica Splint

[@awong160]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@breveennkukan3603]

Great demonstrations!!

[@stevenmarkanthonyharpaul7536]

Wow I learned a lot may God bless us with more knowledge 🤯🧑‍⚕️

[@ffdarrell]

Great video with lots of good information and example. I have 20+ years casting with the last 10 being in 2 Pediatric Ortho offices. I am not a fan of making a sandwich or plaster slab as they describe it in the video. I think it is important to apply the padding first with extra over bony prominences. Your sandwich is uniform in padding with no consideration for extra padding where needed. I even add a stockinette under the Webril. If you hold the plaster strips in place with a little more Webril before applying the ace wrap, you leave good options. Let me explain. You break your arm and the fracture is reduced under the splint. You come to me and the provider wants an overwrap to maintain the position of the fracture. I remove the ace wrap only and put fiberglass over the splint so as not to loose the reduction. I can only do this if the splint was correctly applied.

[@Mr.C0ffee]

Thanks for the insight! Any good book recommendations for casting and splinting? Thanks

[@johannesas1672]

Thank you ❤

[@christianborton9032]

EM resident at an academic center here….thanks for such a great video, trying to consult you guys less from the ED 😅

[@atelefacsandra8919]

Thanks mam this was helpful

[@wendydee3007]

very good video. I have a question... I had a distal radius fracture this week. The doctor made a sugar tong splint, but has included the fingers so I can't move them. He said it will be like that for a week... why would it be necessary to immobilise the fingers? Thanks.

[@elsie26]

not sure abt the specific fracture as i’m not a dr, but certain fractures must have the joints above and below immobilized, since movements of those joints can end up moving the injured wrist.

[@ffdarrell]

For distal radius fractures, I would let the fingers stay out. Whether it is a sugar tong splint or a long arm cast followed by a short arm cast, it is important for the fingers and thumb to move to keep them from getting stiff and sore. This movement helps keep swelling away also. Most people fold the plaster back over the hand if the splints are to long before applying an ace wrap.

[@wendydee3007]

@@ffdarrell Well I ended up with my fingers immobilised for a month and now I can't move my fingers properly (8 months later). At the time, the doctor said it was because the break was in two places and the wrist was unstable, if it moved he would have needed to operate. But now I cannot make a fist or grip things.

[@ffdarrell]

@@wendydee3007 Sorry to hear that. Have you gone to PT/OT. Common practice is to immobilize the joint at both ends of the fracture. If you fracture both the radius and ulna, you would include the hand and go above the elbow when casting. Was your fracture reduced prior to casting. I am a cast tech with 20+ years casting with 10 in adult practice and 10 in peds. There is a big difference in the 2. Adults often require OR because the bones do not remodel like they do in kids. Do you have any nerve damage? Is sensation in your hand and fingers normal? What is your age?

[@wendydee3007]

@@ffdarrell I'm 58, there was a T-shaped break only on the distal radius.The cast went over my elbow and right to the tips of my fingers. The wrist was reduced before casting, and it was in such a good position that the doc didn't want to disturb it or take the cast off the fingers. There doesn't seem to be any nerve damage, but every morning my hand is stiff and flat and I have to work it hard to get the fingers to make a fist. I can't make a complete fist. I had great physio, 5 days a week for a few months, but it didn't seem to improve much. My fingers don't look normal, a bit like the Vulcan salute of Spock from Star Trek! But I live with it, I really work with it if I need to use the hand for fine control, I'm glad I didn't need surgery and metal pins :o)

[@user-jhsoshxhs33]

#تحدي كم مره قالت splint بالفديو

[@karinetavaresdiogenes865]

Ia

[@atelefacsandra8919]

Thanks mam this was helpful