gms | German Medical Science

Clinical issue/s: The aim is to create a simply pattern to limit complications caused by an overcautious immobilisation of joints. To reduce the stiffness and to find the balance between mobility and safety. To help therapists and doctors to make the good decision about the immobilisation of the hand.

Clinical reasoning: Based on literature review, anatomic, practical and biomechanical collective knowledge and practice of a team of hand surgeons, hand therapists and emergency doctors, we have developed a technique for emergency immobilisation that is the most safe and least traumatic for the area around the injury.

Innovative, analytical or new approach: We created a color coding system which provides a more practical and striking visual aide. Each color represents a solution for emergency immobilisation, according to the fracture zone, until the patient sees a hand specialist.

Contribution to advancing HT practice: The daily practice of both hand specialist and generalists in the emergency centers, enabled use to develop a color code for immobilisation of joints in emergency and preventative situations. This color code could have a prominent place in médical and paramédical practices.