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Comparison of four ankle splint designs
1Section of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson.
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|November 1, 1987
Summary
The sugar-tong splint offers superior strength for acute ankle injury immobilization compared to other common designs. This study found it provided greater resistance to plantar flexion, making it a potentially better choice for initial treatment.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Biomechanical Engineering
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Plaster splinting is a common initial treatment for acute ankle injuries.
- Posterior splint designs are frequently recommended but may lack durability in outpatient settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the sturdiness of four common ankle splint designs.
- To evaluate resistance to plantar flexion in acute ankle injury immobilization.
Main Methods:
- Tested four splint designs: standard posterior, ridged posterior, modified figure-of-eight, and sugar-tong.
- Measured resistance to plantar flexion 30 minutes after application in six healthy subjects.
Main Results:
- The sugar-tong splint demonstrated significantly less plantar flexion compared to other designs.
- Greater force was generated per degree of plantar flexion with the sugar-tong splint.
Conclusions:
- The sugar-tong splint exhibits superior strength and may be preferred for acute ankle injury treatment.
- Enhanced immobilization strength can improve outcomes in managing ankle injuries.