Sugar Tong Splint
The sugar tong splint is ideal for splinting fractures of the radius, ulna, or wrist. It prevents flexion and extension at the wrist, limits flexion and extension at the elbow, and prevents supination and pronation. A posterior long arm splint does not prevent supinaton and pronation, therefore, it is of limited use for radius and ulna fractures.
The traditional sugar tong can be difficult to put on a patient without an assistant as it is often hard to hold the splint in position as you begin to ace wrap it. A variation on the sugar tong, the reverse sugar tong, prevents this frustration. The splinting material is cut so that a small piece suspends the splint from the web space between the thumb and index finger. The open ends at the elbow are also easily folded under each other, preventing any bulky splint material from extending out.
The reverse sugar tong is on the left, the original sugar tong on the right.
Check out this video showing how to place a reverse sugar tong splint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-RHdttOMf0
