Page 62 - Orthopedic Casts and Splints2

Performance Steps

8f
Rolled stockinette with cuff

9. Prepare plaster reinforcement splint for the volar aspect of the cast.
NOTE: The volar aspect of the arm is located on the palm side of the hand/forearm.
a. Open box of 4 x 15 plaster reinforcement sheets. Remove sheets from box and unwrap
package . Peel back the edges of (5) sheets, remove from the stack. Place on work
cart/station.
b. Place patient's uninjured hand in the supine position(palm up) and locate DPC, thenar
muscle and the cubitum space.
NOTE: The DPC is furthest diagonal line on the volar aspect of the hand. The thenar muscle is at the
base of the thumb on the volar aspect of the hand. The crease is noticeable when the thumb and 5th
phalange (pinky finger ) are brought together. The cubitum space is located at the bend of the arm.
c. Remove (1) plaster sheet from the stack of (5).
d. Place sheet next to uninjured arm to obtain sheet length, the DPC and thenar muscle
contours .
NOTE: To increase patient cleanliness the sheet does not have to rest on the hand/forearm.
e. Draw a diagonal line on the plaster sheet that matches with the DPC of patient's hand.
NOTE: The diagonal cut facilitates free ROM of the fingers (extension and flexion).
f. Draw a curved line(half moon shape) on the plaster sheet that matches with the outer
border of the thenar muscle on the patient's hand. ( refer to figure 3-x)

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