🦴 Treatments and Therapies
🛠️ Immobilization Techniques and Care
(Expanded with ATI Med-Surg CMS Content: Fractures, Immobilization, and Surgical Interventions)
✅ Immobilization: Purpose and Application
● Immobilization is done with a splint, cast, or immobilizer for unstable fractures.
● An unstable fracture is one where the bone ends are misaligned and movement could worsen
injury or impair healing.
● Immobilization:
○ Decreases pain
○ Prevents further damage
○ Maintains bone alignment for proper healing
● Sling:
○ Used for fractures with minimal displacement
○ Most commonly for clavicle or upper arm
○ Provides comfort, support, and limits motion
● Knee or Shoulder Immobilizers:
○ Offer targeted joint support like a sling
○ Used for soft-tissue injuries, fractures, or postop stabilization
🩹 Casts
● Composed of plaster or fiberglass
● Applied over a cotton padding layer
● Shaped to immobilize the injured limb and adjacent joint
● Plaster:
○ Heavier, takes longer to dry, more moldable
● Fiberglass:
○ Lightweight, dries quickly, more durable
📌 Client Instructions for Cast Care:
● Elevate affected extremity above the level of the heart for the first 72 hours to reduce swelling.
This study source was downloaded by 100000898062787 from CourseHero.com on 09-29-2025 05:37:14 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/249406344/combined-fractures-pdf/
🛠️ Immobilization Techniques and Care
(Expanded with ATI Med-Surg CMS Content: Fractures, Immobilization, and Surgical Interventions)
✅ Immobilization: Purpose and Application
● Immobilization is done with a splint, cast, or immobilizer for unstable fractures.
● An unstable fracture is one where the bone ends are misaligned and movement could worsen
injury or impair healing.
● Immobilization:
○ Decreases pain
○ Prevents further damage
○ Maintains bone alignment for proper healing
● Sling:
○ Used for fractures with minimal displacement
○ Most commonly for clavicle or upper arm
○ Provides comfort, support, and limits motion
● Knee or Shoulder Immobilizers:
○ Offer targeted joint support like a sling
○ Used for soft-tissue injuries, fractures, or postop stabilization
🩹 Casts
● Composed of plaster or fiberglass
● Applied over a cotton padding layer
● Shaped to immobilize the injured limb and adjacent joint
● Plaster:
○ Heavier, takes longer to dry, more moldable
● Fiberglass:
○ Lightweight, dries quickly, more durable
📌 Client Instructions for Cast Care:
● Elevate affected extremity above the level of the heart for the first 72 hours to reduce swelling.
This study source was downloaded by 100000898062787 from CourseHero.com on 09-29-2025 05:37:14 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/249406344/combined-fractures-pdf/
