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Short Leg (AO) Splint

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Edited by Grace Xiong, Harry Lightsey, Brendan Striano - 7/1/2021

Indications/Contraindications

Indications:

Ankle fracture, lower leg/foot fractures

Materials/positioning

Materials:

  • 4” plaster, 4 rolls
  • 4” ACE wraps, 4 rolls
  • 4” Webril, 4 rolls
  • Tape

splint-shortleg_bucket

Positioning:

Supine in stretcher, with either an assistant holding the knee OR have the patient grip their thigh.

Technique

Measure out splint:

On the uninjured side, measure the length of the splint using plaster.

Two components:

Posterior slab: Measure from just distal to the fibular head to just past the toes.
U slab: Measure around the lower leg.

Splint preparation:

10-12 layers of plaster and 5 layers of webril

splint-shortleg_rolledout

Splint application

If with an assistant, can place both the posterior slab and U at the same time and wrap directly with an ace.

If without an assistant, can place the posterior slab first and secure in place with webril and follow this with the U slab.

splint-shortleg_posplacement

splint-shortleg_webriltack

Wrap with ace wrap.

splint-shortleg_anklewrapsplint-shortleg_upperwrap

Molding

Mold based on the fracture pattern.

See examples like ankle fracture dislocations.

splint-shortleg_mold

Pearls & Pitfalls

Potential complications:

Tips for efficiency: