Trauma Tuesday POD- Hare Traction Splint

What is a Hare Traction Splint?

When to Use a Hare Traction Splint?—Midshaft femur fracture when there is no evidence of pelvic or lower leg injury.

How to apply a Hare Traction Splint?

1. Expose the injured limb.

2. Measure distance of splint on uninjured leg- Should be 6-8inches past ankle.

   1. Measure on opposite leg of fracture as femur fracture side can be shortened

   2. Apply ankle hitch

   3. Slide splint under injured leg.

   4. Fasten the ischial strap.

   5. Connect loop of ankle hitch to splint

   6. Tighten the ratchet so the splint holds the traction

   7. Apply the rest of the straps- avoiding the fracture site.

   8. Assess neurovascular function

Here is a link to a video to see how it is applied!

https://youtu.be/498SydRP4jg

Trauma Tuesday POD- BOWING FRACTURE

BOWING FRACTURES  

What is it?

• Incomplete fracture of tubular long bones pediatric patients.

  • Commonly radius and ulna

Presentation:

• Fall on outstretched hand. Child presenting with pain and swelling of forearm

How does it happen?

• Pediatric bones bend because the cortex is thinner than adult bones.

Management

• Depends on degree of angulation

  • <20degrees= splint

  • >20 degrees= reduction of bowing (call orthopedics)

    • during the reduction they are very prone to fracturing

POD- Lyme Disease Prophylaxis

LYME DISEASE: When to give prophylaxis for a tick bite? Patient must meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. I. scapularis tick

2. Tick attached >36 hours

3. Prophylaxis begins within 72 hours of tick removal

4. Bite occurred in area with high rate of infection

5. Doxycycline not contraindicated

   1. Patient > 8 years of age

   2. Not pregnant or lactating

Prophylaxis=Doxycycline 4mg/kg max 200mg one-time dose

*** If patient does not meet the criteria for antibiotic prophylaxis recommendation is that they be observed and only treated if signs of symptoms of Lyme Disease develop