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Sager® Emergency Traction Splints and the Minto Fracture Kit
2
Is there a danger that external rotation of the fractured
femur can occur using a Sager® Splint?
•
No
, not when the Sager® Splint is properly applied and the Pedal Pinion (figure 8 strap)
is used to bind the feet together. External rotation of a fractured femur can and does
happen using Ischial Pad Traction Splints that have the foot end raised on a tri-pod –
where the feet cannot be bound together.
3
Is elevation of the foot much better for prevention of leg
congestion and swelling?
Any elevation of the injury and the limb distal to it can be helpful –
but look at the facts:
•
Most Ischial Pad Traction Splints in use today elevate the foot seven (7) inches. The
hip may not be elevated at all – or at most – be elevated one (1) to two (2) inches.
•
If the foot is the injured part, there may be some improvement in drainage and a
decrease in congestion and swelling
of that foot
. However, this does nothing for the
drainage of the injured femur.
•
In order to take advantage of elevation, one would have to raise the foot (ankle)
approximately twenty-two (22) inches in order to raise the femoral injury above the level
of the heart.
However, even this extreme elevation will not raise the injury above
the level of the patient’s heart when the fracture is at the proximal end of the femur.
•
Ischial Pad Traction Splints cannot raise femurs above the level of the heart therefore;
this minimal elevation is of no value. It can also be detrimental.
•
If elevation of the fracture site is desired, trendellenberg positioning of the patient
should be considered. This is the only method to truly elevate the femur above the level
of the patient’s heart.
One cannot bind the feet
together unless the good
leg is raised also!
This minimal elevation is of no value.
If elevation of the fracture site is
desired, Trendellenberg positioning
of the patient is the more appropriate
course of action.
fig 21
fig 22
