LONG ARM SPLINTING

Course overview

LONG ARM SPLINTS ARE USED IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS FOR IMMOBILIZATION OF BOTH BONY AND SOFT TISSUE INJURIES TO THE UPPER EXTREMITIES. THIS TYPE OF SPLINT PROVIDES IMMOBILIZATION TO THE ELBOW AND THE WRIST. AS A RESULT, ELBOW FLEXION AND EXTENSION AND WRIST FLEXION, EXTENSION, FOREARM SUPINATION/PRONATION CAN BE RESTRICTED. LONG ARM SPLINTS ARE OFTEN THE INITIAL FORM OF IMMOBILIZATION PLACED ON AN INJURED LIMB TO ACCOMMODATE SOFT TISSUE SWELLING BEFORE MORE DEFINITIVE TREATMENT WITH A CAST OR SURGICAL FIXATION. THIS ACTIVITY PRESENTS THE INDICATIONS FOR A LONG ARM SPLINT AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH ARM PATHOLOGY.