This slide show illustration is designed to give a brief introduction into injury assesment and immediate action splinting as it pertains to injuries involving school-aged children from elementry to high school. This slide show is part of a visual training utilized for the purpose of educating school coaches in the "out of the box" injury assesment and splinting methods when commercially manufactured splinting material is unavailable.

1. Splinting Orthopedic Injuries

2.  We are in no way condoning or implying that
non-trained personnel should use only our
described methods to treat your injured
players or any other.
 All who perform our described methods
assumes all liability of treatment, including
your selection of material(s) and application
of materials utilized.

4. Now that we’ve got your
attention…

5.  Injured during game
 Freak accident (not a
contact injury)
 Open fracture of
tib/fib

6.  You had a player during practice that had
something similar happen?
 You don’t have an Athletic Trainer or other
qualifying professional to help?
 You forgot to bring your splinting gear?

7.  Quickly assess an orthopedic injury
 Splinting your injured player
 How to splint
 What materials to splint with
 Demonstrate splinting with SAM Splint

8.  If your player is conscious:
 Let them tell you what happened and what hurts
 If your player is unconscious:
 DO NOT RENDER CARE!
 CALL 911!
 call the parents or guardian
 DO NOT MOVE THEM!
 Let the advanced care team treat the player
 Treat your player for shock
 place a blanket or some other clothing on them to keep
them warm and if possible, slightly elevate the feet with
knees bent.

9.  Bone(s) sticking out of skin (YUK!)
 Extremity in abnormal position (looks deformed)
 Joint locked into position
 When compared with the opposite extremity, there
is a difference in:
 Length
 Shape
 Size
 Limited movement and/or Range of Motion
 Pain or tenderness over the injury site
 Swelling and/or bruising

10.  To prevent further injury to your player
 To reduce / control pain
 To provide a sense of safety

11.  Check for pulse/circulation prior to any
splinting
 Splint extremity in position of function if
possible
 Recheck pulse/circulation

12. STEP ONE

13. Prior to any splint:
Check the tips of the fingers or the toes for good
capillary refill*
 *Squeeze digits at the tips until blanched white, then
release and watch for digits to “pink up” again
 Should happen within 2 – 4 seconds

19. Pay very close attention and re-check
your work after completion of the
splint.
Although this splint will be great for
immobilization of a humerus, there
are two little issues that must be
addressed…
•Tape is in the crease of the elbow
and this could cause circulation
issues
•Cardboard is too long and use of
an enclosed sling is not possible

21. •Key ring below the hem
•Use the heavier seams to help
hold the weight of the extremity

30. JIM “BUZZ” LAND, CSA, OT
jland@opaak.com