Lower leg fractures
Procedure
and maintain manual traction to gently align the leg to its anatomical position. Move the limb slowly. Tying a stirrup bandage around the ankle or lower leg will allow more effective application and maintenance of traction during splinting.
- 2.Check distal circulation, motor response and sensation.
grasping the patient's pant leg and lifting slightly while the splint is slid into position under the leg.
- 4.Place padding at the groin and under the knee, if there is a hollow.
of the leg: a cravat bandage at the thigh, as close to the top of the splint as a) possible. This provides support for counter-traction. a cravat bandage on the lower thigh b) a cravat bandage above the fracture c) a cravat bandage below the fracture d) two cravat bandages tied together for a figure-of-eight at the ankle to e) maintain traction
- 8.Tie all bandages from the thigh down with reef knots on the outside of the splint.
and around, crossing on top of the ankle, to retain traction, being careful not to put any pressure on the toe of the boot.
crossing underneath the boot and tying on top of the splint below the boot. Retain manual traction until the figure of eight bandage has been tied.
- 11.Recheck PMS (distal circulation, motor response and sensation).
- 12.Elevate the splint, if PMS is present.
Related
- 1.Tie two cravat bandages together.
- 2.Place the knot on the edge of the sole at one side of the boot.
- 3.Place the bandage under the sole and up the other side of the boot.
- 4.Have the patient hold the short end of the bandage.
the ankle) and over the bandage held by the patient.
and bringing it forward over the starting point in front of the ankle.
- 7.Insert the end under the loop in a direction from the foot toward the knee.
- 8.Fold down both ends of the bandage, away from the patient.
in line with the centre of the lower leg. That is, the loops are neither toward the front nor the back of the ankle.
- 10.Using this bandage, hold traction (as illustrated).
Figure 13-17: Stirrup bandage
Chapter 13, p. 214- 1.Fold two cravats in half.
- 2.Pass the folded end of one cravat under the patient's ankle(s).
The points of each should point toward the feet.
in a direction away from the feet, toward the patient's knees.
to snug the bandages to the ankle, in line with the centre line of the leg (This minimizes the chance of rotation during traction).