How to Splint a Fractured Ankle in the Wilderness

Splinting a fracture is important for reducing pain and speeding healing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Assess for fracture (see "How to Assess for Fracture").
2. Immobilize the injury: any movement is not only very painful but also can worsen the injury.
3. Find some rigid yet flexible material long enough to extend at least from the middle of the lower leg on one side of the fractured ankle to the middle of the lower leg on the other side. One possibility is to cut an Ensolite sleeping pad to the proper length and then fold it over to increase rigidity.
4. Gather materials to tie the splint into place. Any of the following will do: pack straps, rope, clothing, belts, bandannas, triangular bandages.
5. Make a U-shaped splint: run the splinting material from one side of the lower leg, around the foot at the arch, to the other side of the lower leg. This forms a sort of stirrup.
6. Tie the splinting material into place.
7. Place padding in any empty spaces between the splint and the leg or foot.
8. Check circulation, sensation and motion beyond the fracture sight, to make sure the splint isn't too tight.
9. Continue with further treatment for the fracture (see related eHows on treating fractures).

Tips & Warnings

• Contact the Wilderness Medicine Institute or the National Outdoor Leadership School for information on wilderness medicine courses and books.
• Don't tie on the splint too tightly. This could impede circulation.
• If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other healthcare professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment