Bandages And Splints Flashcards
Functions of a bandage
Protection
Absorption of draining material
Compression of soft tissues
Stabilization/external coaptation
External coaptation
Splint or cast used as primary stabilization technique for fracture management or support surgical repair, joint instability
Forms: temporary, primary, secondary
Indications for external coaptation as primary fracture repair
Incomplete fracture in young animal
Simple fracture with minimal displacement
Ulna or fibula intact
Can stabilize joint above + below fracture
Financial constraint of owner
Below knee or above elbow
Contraindications for external coaptation as primary fracture management
Joint fractures
Inability of split to counteract fracture forces
Joint cannot be stabilized above/below fracture
Process for closed fracture reduction
Radiographs
Sedation/anesthesia
Limb alignment/fragment apposition
Appropriate bandage/split
Assess reduction by radiograph
Requirements for radiographs of fracture
2 orthogonal views
Visualize joint above and below fracture
Purpose of sedation/anesthesia
Reduce pain
Keep patient still while splinting
Muscle relaxation to assist manipulation
Alignment
Orientation of bone with respect to normal anatomic axis (in all planes)
position of joint above/below fracture
Reduction
Act of placing fracture fragments into apposition
Apposition
Assessment of how fracture fragments relate to one another (how well fit together)
Fracture reduction + alignment
Distract and manipulate fracture ends (90 deg hinge, then slowly straighten to fatigue muscles - working against muscle contraction)
Interdigitate ends
Goal: 100% apposition; 50% in 2 views is acceptable
Contraindications: bone starts to splinter or break
Factors for selecting bandage material
Extent of soft tissue damage
Wounds
Type of weight bearing / joint mobility needed
Available materials
Size of patient
Temperament
Bandage layer
Contact (primary) layer
Intermediate (secondary) layer - absorb fluid, support, compression
Outer (tertiary) layer - protect from environment, hold in place
Tape stirrups
Used to prevent bandage from slipping off
Stick side of tape on dry limb
- medial/lateral or dorsal palmar
- extend 25-50% of bandage
- extra at end to turn up
Not always needed
Application of cast padding / cotton
Start distally —> move up
Start with 100% overlap at toes
Overlap each layer by 50% up limb
Not too tight - will tear