Question

Your patient is a 28-year-old male who was ejected from his motorcycle after striking a parked vehicle. He has multiple deformities to his upper and lower extremities on both sides. Which of the following would be the BEST way to immobilize this patient's extremities prior to transport?

A. Use padded board splints for the upper extremities and PASG for the lower extremities.
B. Immobilize the patient to a long backboard without splinting the extremities individually.
C. Use traction splints for the lower extremities and allow the upper extremities to be immobilized by the long backboard.
D. Use moldable splints for the upper and lower extremities, padding any voids to fully stabilize the fractures.

Answer 1

The best option for immobilizing a patient with multiple extremity deformities after a motorcycle accident is to use moldable splints for both the upper and lower extremities, ensuring proper alignment and stabilization.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best way to immobilize a patient with multiple deformities to the upper and lower extremities, as in the case of a 28-year-old male ejected from a motorcycle, would be option D. This method involves the use of moldable splints for both upper and lower extremities, and padding any voids to fully stabilize the fractures. The use of moldable splints will allow for each individual extremity to be immobilized in a manner that conforms to the specific deformities and provides substantial support to prevent further injury during transport.

Option A is not the best choice as padded board splints for the upper extremities may not conform well to the deformities, and the Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (PASG) is not typically indicated for immobilizing extremity fractures. Option B is not ideal as the long backboard alone without splinting the extremities individually could allow for excessive movement and could potentially worsen the injuries. Option C's use of traction splints is typically reserved for isolated femur fractures and would not be suitable for multiple deformities on both lower extremities, and it does not address the need to immobilize the upper extremities adequately.