Final answer:
To splint a fractured phalange, stabilize the broken bone in its correct anatomical position using a splint, ensuring proper alignment for the healing process. For complex fractures, surgical intervention with metal pins might be necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
A fractured phalange should be splinted to immobilize the area and allow for proper healing. If a phalange, or finger bone, is broken, the standard care includes aligning the bone in its proper anatomical position to ensure correct healing, as healing will occur even if the bone isn't properly reset, but it may heal in a deformed position if not splinted correctly. In the case of more complex fractures, like a broken scaphoid or a Colles fracture, surgery might be required, where metal pins are used to set the bones in place for healing.
Fingers contain 14 phalange bones, with the thumb having two phalanges—the proximal and distal phalanges—and the other fingers each having three the proximal, middle, and distal phalanges. A splint should be carefully applied to stabilize these bones without impeding blood flow or causing further injury.