Apparatus.—1. A firm ball of tow large enough to fill the palm, stitched in old linen.
2. A roller 2 inches wide.
The broken bone is first replaced; then the hand and fingers bound on to the ball by carrying the roller around them until they are all immoveably confined.
This plan has the disadvantage of confining the whole hand for the fracture of one metacarpal bone; the gutta-percha allows free use of all but the metacarpal bones.
Broken phalanges are treated by bandaging them on to a slip of wood long enough to reach into the palm; the slip must be well padded, that the somewhat concave anterior surface of the digit may accommodate itself on the flat splint. If more than one finger be injured, and the fracture be compound, the splint should then reach up the palmar aspect of the forearm and hand. Fingers should be cut in it to correspond with the fingers to be fastened to the splint.
Fracture of the lower end of the Radius.—Colles’ Fracture.—The displacement in this fracture is mainly due to the lower end of the radius and the carpus being carried backwards while the shaft projects in front.
Apparatus.—1. A straight splint of wood. A second splint, curved at its lower end.
2. Pads and cotton wool.
3. A roller 2 inches wide.
4. A sling.