What splint is commonly used for a distal radial fracture?

What splint is commonly used for a distal radial fracture?

• A. Sugar tong
• B. U-slab
• C. Thumb spica
• D. Posterior long arm splint

Answer: (A)

When a distal radius fracture occurs, you want to immobilize the wrist and forearm to protect the fracture while swelling settles. A sugar tong splint does exactly that by wrapping around the forearm on opposite sides and across the wrist, immobilizing the radiocarpal joint and limiting forearm rotation. Its design provides stable immobilization in the acute setting and can be adjusted as swelling changes or converted to a cast later if needed. The other splints are geared toward different injuries: a U-slab offers forearm/wrist support but doesn’t control rotation as effectively; a thumb spica is used when the thumb or the scaphoid is involved; a posterior long arm splint immobilizes the elbow and is used for injuries closer to the shoulder/elbow, not the distal forearm.

When a distal radius fracture occurs, you want to immobilize the wrist and forearm to protect the fracture while swelling settles. A sugar tong splint does exactly that by wrapping around the forearm on opposite sides and across the wrist, immobilizing the radiocarpal joint and limiting forearm rotation. Its design provides stable immobilization in the acute setting and can be adjusted as swelling changes or converted to a cast later if needed. The other splints are geared toward different injuries: a U-slab offers forearm/wrist support but doesn’t control rotation as effectively; a thumb spica is used when the thumb or the scaphoid is involved; a posterior long arm splint immobilizes the elbow and is used for injuries closer to the shoulder/elbow, not the distal forearm.