What is a Thomas splint used for?

The modern “Thomas” splint is one of the most common pieces of medical equipment used in hospitals. It is a simple tool used to effectively immobilize limbs and has successfully reduced the morbidity and mortality that was once involved with limb fractures.

What was the Thomas splint designed to help?

The earliest splint was first used in 1865 for treating diseases of the knee such as tuberculosis by prolonged rest and immobilisation,1 and only later for the management of fractures of the lower limb.

What are the contraindications to the use of a traction splint?

Patients with osteoporosis are possible contraindications, as are elderly patients with fragile skin. Traction splints should not be used for proximal or distal fractures of the femur, or where there are knee, lower leg, ankle or foot injuries, or in patients with pelvic fractures.

How do you place a Thomas splint?

Procedure

Apply firm manual traction to the limb maintaining the foot in a dorsiflexed position.
Support the knee and thigh.
Apply the skin extension longitudinally around the leg.
The skin traction should then be secured from thigh to the ankle using crepe bandages.

What are 4 types of splints?

Splint Types

Coaptation splint.
Forearm volar splint‎
Long arm posterior splint.
Radial gutter splint.
Sling and swathe splint.
Sugar tong splint.
Double sugar tong splint.
Thumb spica splint.

When would you use a traction splint?

Traction splints are most commonly used for fractures of the femur (or upper leg bone). For these fractures they may reduce pain and decrease the amount of bleeding which occurs into the soft tissues of the leg. Some state that they are appropriate for middle tibia fractures which are displaced or bent.

What problems did the Thomas splint solve?

Thomas advocated enforced rest as the best remedy for fractures and tuberculosis and created the so-called ‘Thomas Splint’ to stabilise a fractured femur and prevent infection. Previous to this the leg would have been amputated, which was often a death sentence.

Can you put a traction splint on an open fracture?

It should be stressed that traction splints should not be used in either proximal or distal femur fractures due to the propensity of the device to cause movement of the hip or knee, increasing the risk of complications 1.

How did the Thomas splint prevent infection?

What is a 90 90 traction?

In 90° – 90° traction, your child’s lower leg will be supported by a “Bucky Boot” which is made of foam. A pin will be placed in the broken bone for stability. Weights will be attached to it by traction ropes. The weights help keep the parts of the bone in proper position so the bone will heal correctly.

What is the best form of splint?

There are two ways to splint an injury:

Tie the injured part to a stiff object, such as rolled-up newspapers or magazines, a stick, or a cane. You can use a rope, belt, or tape as a tie.
Fasten it (buddy-tape) to some other part of the body. For example, wrap an injured arm to your chest.

What is the most common type of splint?

… The static (immobile) and dynamic (mobile) splints are the common types of splints used for the hand [28]. Common hand static splints include ulnar gutter, radial gutter, thumb Spica, volar, dorsal, single and double sugar tong [28] .

What can a Thomas splint be used for?

It can also be used for transportation of patients. This can provide adequate fracture stability and pain relief until definitive stabilization is carried out. If this method of treatment is chosen the appropriate size of the Thomas’s splint has to be selected.

When does a patient need to be intubated?

Patients who have at least one of the following 5 indications should be intubated. Unable to maintain airway patency. Unable to protect the airway against aspiration. Answering “yes” to any of the following 5 questions signifies the need to intubate the need to intubate the patient.

What kind of drug should I take for intubation?

Sedation and analgesia for intubation. Laryngoscopy and intubation are uncomfortable; in conscious patients, a short-acting IV drug with sedative or combined sedative and analgesic properties is mandatory. Etomidate 0.3 mg/kg, a nonbarbiturate hypnotic, may be the preferred drug.

Can a Thomas splint be used for a femoral shaft fracture?

Temporary stabilization of femoral shaft fractures can be achieved using the Thomas’s splint apparatus. It can also be used for transportation of patients. This can provide adequate fracture stability and pain relief until definitive stabilization is carried out.