Posterior Elbow Splinting

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Splints are generally applied to decrease movement to provide support and comfort through stabilization of an injury. In the emergency department (ED), splints are primarily used to stabilize nonemergency injuries to bones until the patient can be evaluated by a consultant such as an orthopedic surgeon, at which time definitive casting can be performed. ^{[1, 2]}  Splints can also serve as initial immobilization in the preoperative period or can immobilize an injury for primary healing.

All patients with injuries that are splinted should be referred for evaluation by a consultant in a timely fashion (within 2-3 days). ^{[3, 4]}

A posterior elbow splint is primarily used to stabilize the following injuries:

Although no true contraindications exist for the placement of a splint, certain injuries require immediate evaluation or intervention by a consultant (eg, orthopedic surgeon, hand surgeon, plastic surgeon) and, as such, may not necessitate splinting. Such injuries include the following:

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Halanski MA, Halanski AD, Oza A, Vanderby R, Munoz A, Noonan KJ. Thermal injury with contemporary cast-application techniques and methods to circumvent morbidity. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 Nov. 89(11):2369-77. [Medline].

Johnston JJ, Spelman L. Pressure-induced localised granuloma annulare following use of an elbow splint. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2017 Jun. 41 (3):311-313. [Medline].

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Lindenhovius AL, Jupiter JB. The posttraumatic stiff elbow: a review of the literature. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2007 Dec. 32(10):1605-23. [Medline].

Lynne McCullough, MD, FACEP Professor of Medicine and Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine; Medical Director, Westwood Emergency Department

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Erik D Schraga, MD Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mills-Peninsula Emergency Medical Associates

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Special thanks to Dr. Iris Gluzman and Mrs. Leni L. Chuang.

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Lars Grimm with the literature review and referencing for this article.

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Kenneth R Chuang, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

Posterior Elbow Splinting

Research & References of Posterior Elbow Splinting|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
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