Treatment Shop

Below Knee Splint using Dynacast(TM) Prelude

An application technique by Glenn Brown OTC (USA) & FAIOT

Materials
Dynacast™ Prelude Splinting System, measuring tape, 2 x 10cm Elastocrepe™ bandage, 1 x 15cm Elastocrepe™ bandage, scissors and water.

For length, measure from just distal to the fibular head to a point opposite medially around the plantar aspect of the foot. See Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 (measuring of plantar section).

Measure the length dependent on whether the toe tips are to be supported and also whether you wish to elevate the heel from the bed for non-ambulant patients. See Fig. 3 (plantar length) and Fig. 4 (extra posterior length is used to keep heel off bed to negate pressure).

Joining of the two splints
Lie out the Medio-lateral section and remove fibreglass splint from the polypropylene padding leaving the padding open. Determine the centre of the splint and remove equally either side of that centre, the width of centre stitching equivalent to the width of the plantar section with sharp scissors. See Fig. 5.

Remove the plantar section’s polypropylene padding and slide the splint between the stitchless 4th and 5th layers of the Medio-lateral section (see Fig. 6).

Trim edges ensuring that the polypropylene padding is covering them.

Lay completed splint onto Medio-lateral section’s polypropylene padding and cut the plantar section’s polypropylene padding to cover the rest of the splint (see Fig. 7).

Application
Wet the splint by spray bottle (or for much quicker setting time (2-3 minutes) immerse in water out of the polypropylene padding, wring out and replace polypropylene padding. Take splint by the two long proximal edges.

Lie in appropriate place on limb and secure with the crepe bandages starting at the ankle See Fig. 8. Patient usually assists me in this application.

The plantar section can be trimmed to the shape of the toes while holding in position till dry. See Fig. 8 also.

Strong and Versatile
If a wound needs continuing attention on either medial or lateral aspects or perhaps an external fixateur is attached, this splint can be adapted with a one sided strut while continuing to maintain ankle/foot position.

For minimal weight bearing (ie balance) double the thickness of the plantar section.

This practical application of Dynacast Prelude is by Glenn Brown OTC (USA), AOT (UK) & FAIOT. For more information on Dynacast Prelude go to http://wound.smith-nephew.com/au/Product.asp?Nodeld=3623