Lower Limb Injuries
- Fitting Your Boot
What is a walking boot?
It is a boot used to splint any injury that has occurred around your ankle or foot. Using these, you can apply weight on leg and walk as much as your pain allows.
Why do I need this?
If you have sustained a foot or an ankle injury then you may have been fitted with a boot to protect the injury. It is essential that you wear this boot whenever you want to walk or stand.
How do I wear it?
Remove the boot from the plastic casing. Open all the velcro straps and wear the boot as you would normally. Ensure that the back of your heel is in contact with the back of the boot. The boot comes with some extra foam pads which could be used as cushioning for pressure areas. Once you feel that there is a snug fit, start by fastening the straps around the ankle and the top of the boot followed by all the other straps. You will be able to walk using this boot.
Should I wear it at all times?
No. You can take these off while you are sitting or lying down. However, make sure you are keeping your limb elevated when you are not wearing it.
- Knee Brace
What is a knee brace?
A knee brace is used to splint your knee injury. The knee brace that is most commonly used is a cricket pad splint. Cricket pad splints, as the name suggests, looks like a cricket pad. This keeps your limb straight at the knee joint and helps you move about by supporting the leg.
Why do I need this?
If you have sustained a knee injury, this helps protect the injury and help you move about with the help of crutches. The cricket pad splint temporarily provides support to your injury and allows you to mobilise. When sitting or lying down you can loosen the straps and elevate the leg. Intermittent icing is encouraged of acute injuries.
How do I wear this?
Undo all the Velcro straps that are present on the front of the cricket pad splint. Open it up and place it behind your knee making sure that your kneecap is at the level of the middle hole. Now fasten the velcro straps so that the splint is secure and comfortable.
Do I need to wear this at all times?
Yes. Ideally this should be worn at all times so as to avoid further injury to the knee. However, when lying in bed or in a chair you could unfasten the straps.
How long do I need to use this?
You will be directed by the Virtual Fracture Clinic team on the length of time you are required to wear the splint for.
- Using Crutches
What are crutches?
These are mobility aids that help you walk in case you have sustained an injury to your lower limb/s. The most commonly used crutches in the A&E are the elbow crutches.
Why do I need these?
If you have sustained a lower limb injury, the chances are that you have been fitted with a walking boot/splint/a plaster of paris (POP) cast. Hence, these crutches will help you to move about until we at the fracture clinic get in touch with you with a definitive plan.
How do I use these?
Adjusting the height: Rest the crutch next to your arm. The elbow support should be at the height of your elbow whilst the handle must be at the height of your wrist. This could be done by using the pin on the side of the crutch to adjust the height.
Getting up from sitting: Hold both the crutches in one hand and place the other hand on the arm of the chair. Now use both your upper limbs to push yourself from the chair to stand up. Avoid bearing weight on the affected limb by using the crutches. Now place the crutches in front of you to maintain your balance.
Walking with bearing weight on the injured limb: You can bear weight on the injured leg if the A&E has fitted you with a walking boot. Place both the crutches in front of you. Then place the affected foot forward between the crutches. Following this, place your uninjured lower limb in front and repeat the cycle. The idea here is to place as little weight as possible in the affected limb and use crutches to aid this.
Walking without bearing weight on the injured limb: You should not bear weight while walking if the A&E has advised you against it. This is normally the case if you have a POP cast on the lower limb.
The technique to do this is to place both the crutches in front of you. Keep the injured limb off the ground by either bending it backwards at the knee or holding it off the ground in front of you. Now take the weight onto your hands. Hop forwards on your good leg and land between the crutches. Repeat the cycle.
- Ankle Fracture Cast Care
What is an ankle cast?
An ankle cast is a type of plaster used for ankle injuries to immobilise and support the foot and ankle in a certain position. I can be made of either plaster of Paris or fiberglass. The cast can be applied as either a slab (covering one side of your limb only) or a cast (encircling your limb). This helps splint the limb and gives the injury time to heal.
How do I take care of the cast?
You must keep your cast clean and dry at all times. While taking a shower, ensure that the cast doesn’t get wet by wrapping the cast with either a waterproof clothing or a plastic bag. If the skin covered by the cast gets itchy over time, avoid sticking objects such as coat hangers/pencils into the cast. Never remove the cast yourself. Keep your limb elevated as much as possible.
Should I be looking out for anything?
Yes, you must be looking out for any signs of compartment syndrome.
If you find you have any of the following then you need to attend the Emergency Department immediately:
- Feel that the pain is increasing suddenly and out of proportion,
- Experience numbness or tingling in your foot
- Notice excessive swelling and your toes goes blue/white
Why do I need injections into my tummy?
These are to prevent clots that may occur in your limb due to prolonged immobilisation known as deep vein thrombosis.
- Simple Toe Injuries
Why is my injured toe strapped to the neighbouring toe?
If you have sustained an injury to one of your toes, then you would have gotten yourself a neighbour strap (aka buddy strap). This allows for your injured toe to move whilst also protecting it by splinting (strapping) it to the neighbouring toe.
Why is there a piece of gauze between my toes?
This is to prevent them from rubbing against each other and sweating leading to skin maceration.
What do I do if the buddy strap gets wet?
Do not worry. Try to dry it off using a table fan or a hair dryer. If possible, try and remove the piece of gauze between the toes and replace it with a piece of dry cloth.
How long do I need to wear this?
You’ll need to wear this all the time until the Fracture Clinic contact you or inform you otherwise.
Should I be looking out for anything?
Yes. If you notice that the toe starts changing colour or if you develop pins and needles, you need to take the strap off and present to the A&E.