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Background
- Also known as a "posterior knee splint"
Indications
- Temporary immobilization for knee injuries requiring rapid intervention, in the absence of commercial knee immobilizers.
- Angulated fractures
- Pediatric femoral shaft fractures
Procedure
Long leg posterior splint
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
- Splint course:
- Start just inferior to buttocks crease
- Down the posterior leg
- End approximately 6cm above the malleoli
- Key anatomic positions
- Knee should be kept at 5 degrees flexion
- Foot in slight plantarflexion
See Also
References
