Improvements in Surgical Splints.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Surgical Splints.
I, ROBERT WHITE BARTON, Physician, of Marion, in the County of Crittenden
and State of Arkansas, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Primarily this invention is designed to provide a simple and novel form of
splint more particularly adapted for use in the treatment of compound and com-
minuted fractures, and in which extensibility can be readily effected without
rearranging the bandage and without the use of weights. In its more specific
character my improvement is in the nature of an immobile auto-extension splint,
immobile for the reason that it maintains a permanent and fixed position when
applied, auto-extension because it maintains a proper natural extension of limbs
or other parts injured in a manner demanding its application, without the use of
weights or other contrivances. Although the splint is more particularly designed
for use in the treatment of compound and compound comminuted fractures the
same is also applicable for treating fractures of arms or hands or other parts of the
anatomy of man or beast in cases where the fracture of the bone is complicated
with injury to the soft tissues (flesh) requiring not alone the proper setting of the
bones and maintenance thereof but at the same time a proper exposure of the
wound of the flesh whereby the same can be properly and advantageously treated.
My invention consists generally of a splint comprising two sections or base
portions of suitable pliable material adapted to be readily secured in position on
the limb at opposite sides of the line of fracture, and a bridge portion connecting
the two pliable sections in such manner as to maintain them in an immovable
position after proper adjustment whereby the surface of the wounded portion
can be left free for treatment without in the least affecting the setting of the
splint.
My improved splint comprises a base portion formed of two sections separately
held but united to and composing a part of the complete splint body. In its
simplest form the splint has two base members which are held in alignment but
separated to form an intervening space the purpose of which will presently appear.
The members are formed of a tough pliable material, preferably leather of about
one-eighth of an inch in thickness for the reason that when applied either after
soaking in water or not it adjusts itself to the contour of any limb portion in
either a normal or swollen state, and also on account of its great resistance on
the stronger limb portions. The base members may however be formed of any
other suitable tough or pliable material which will readily give to the contour
of that portion of the limb to which it is applied. The bridge portions which
connect the base members consist each of angle brackets having base portions,
vertical shanks, and horizontally threaded extensions. The vertical members
are fitted in slots formed in the adjacent ends of the pliable base members and
having their base portions fixed to the lower faces of the bare members by studs
which pass up from the base portion through the leather members their upper
ends being threaded to receive clamp nuts or washers which may be in the nature

page_text: of thumb screws or slotted hand members. In their simplest form the horizontal
members of the angle brackets are not threaded but are rigidly connected by a
slotted finger piece so as to form a bridge piece which projects up high enough
from the wounded portion of the limb to admit of free access thereto.
In the practical application of my improved splint the base portions are properly
set at opposite sides of the line of flesh wound and made firm and immovable by
fitting plaster of Paris bandages in the usual way of applying such bandages in
simple fractures. In fractures of the thigh or at the knee, the pliable base
members extend over and cover the knee well and the plaster bandages made
heavy by careful and increased quantity, the same treatment being also employed
at the ankle and foot to especially guard against any movement of the joints.
This arrangement gives a continuous splint that will hold a fractured limb either
straight or at any angle desired.
In operation after the fracture is properly reduced the fractured limb is also
properly extended. My improved splint, by reason of the bridge portion,
furnishes the severed continuity of the plaster of Paris portion and simply main-
tains immovably the extensions secure at reduction and becomes an immobile
auto-extension splint because it is stable and of itself maintains a proper extension
of the injured limb.
The bridge may also be made adjustable in which case the central or apertured
portion is in the nature of a turn buckle having right and left screw threads
engaging the threaded ends of the horizontal portions on the brackets. This
adjustment permits of the splint being broadened or contracted as the extent of
flesh wound (with a view to the proper drainage and treatment) justifies. By
means of the turn buckle a three-inch bridge or bracket piece can be extended
to five inches, a four-inch to six inches, a five-inch to seven inches, etc., without
impairing its utility.
While my improved splint can be secured to the limb by bandaging in any
well known manner yet preferably the same is applied in the following manner:--
The sound part of the leg or other limb is encased in a flannel bandage and
absorbent cotton applied at any joints where greater security or strength is
desired, to overcome tendency to rotary motion. Under the base members is
placed a pad of absorbent cotton or surgical gauze or lambs' wool, which padding
is allowed to extend a few inches below the termination of the leather remote
from the wound so that the abruptness or unevenness at the end of the leather
may be overcome to guard against cracking of the plaster of Paris. A two-inch
or narrower bandage of flannel covers the entire base members of the splint.
This bandage must however not be longer than necessary to make a roll of two
inches in diameter so that when the brackets are reached in bandaging, the said
bandage can readily be passed under and between such brackets making a figure 8
tie around the respective ends of the brackets whereby to draw them together
and prevent spreading. A narrower plaster bandage is also used over the leather
and at the ends of the brackets for the same reason.
Dated this 10th dos, of Wah 1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
improvements in Surgical Spints.
I, ROBERT WHITE BARTON, of Marion, in the County of Crittenden, and State
of Arkansas, United States of America, Physician, do hereby declare the nature 5
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
Primarily this invention is designed to provide a simple and novel form of

page_text: splint more particularly adapted for use in the treatment of compound and
comminuted fractures.
This invention also comprehends an improved construction of splint in which
extensibility can be readily effected without rearranging the bandage and
without the use of weights.
In its more specific character my improvement is in the nature of an immobile
auto-extension splint, immobile for the reason that it maintains a permanent
and fixed position when applied, auto-extension because it maintains a proper
natural extension of limbs or other parts injured in a manner demanding its
application without the use of weights or other contrivances such as is commonly
needed to secure the proper extension of the injured limb.
Although my improvement is more particularly designed for use in the treat-
ment of compound and compound comminuted fractures the same is also applicable
for treating fractures of arms or hands, or other parts of the anatomy of man
or beast, in cases where the fracture of the bone is complicated with injury to
the soft tissues (flesh), requiring not alone the proper setting of the bones and
maintainance thereof, but at the same time a proper exposure of the wound of the
flesh whereby the same can be properly and advantageously treated.
My invention consists generally of a splint comprising two sections or base
portions of suitable pliable material adapted to be readily secured in proper
position on the limb at the point necessary and at opposite sides of the line of
fracture, and a bridge portion connecting the two pliable sections in such manner
as to maintain them in an immovable position after proper adjustment whereby
the surface of the wounded portion can be left free for treatment without in the
least affecting the setting of the splint.
In its subordinate features my invention comprises a novel construction and
arrangement of parts which will be first described in detail and then specifically
pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 illustrates my invention as applied for use.
Figure 2 is a view illustrating the manner in which the base members of my
improved splint are made fast to the limb.
Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the simplest form of my improved
splint, and
Figure 4 illustrates my splint as having extensible bridge portions.
In its practical construction my improved splint comprises a base portion
formed of two sections separately held, but united to and composing a part of
the complete splint body. In its simplest form the splint has two base
members 1, 1, which are held in alignment but separated to form an intervening
space 2, the purpose of which will presently appear.
The members 1, 1ª are formed of a tough pliable material, preferably leather
for the reason that when applied either after soaking in water or not, it adjusts
itself to the contour of any limb portion in either a normal or swollen state.
When made of leather the same is to be of good sound dressed material of about
one-eighth of an inch in thickness because of its great resistance on the stronger
limb portions.
While I have found it more desirable to make the base members 1, 1ª, of leather
I desire it understood that they can be formed of any other suitable tough or
pliable material which will readily give to the contour of that portion of the limb
to which it is applied.
The bridge portions which connect the members 1, 1ª, consist each of angle
brackets 2, having base portions 3, vertical shanks 3*, and horizontally threaded
extensions 3b.
The members 3*, are fitted in slots 1° formed in the adjacent ends of the pliable
base members 1, 1ª, and have their base portions 3, fixedly secured to the lower
faces of the members 1, 1ª, by the studs 3, which pass up from the base portion 3,

page_text: through the leather members 1, 1ª, their upper ends being threaded to receive
clamp nuts or washers 4, which may be in the nature of thumb screws or slotted
hand members.
In their simplest form the horizontal members 3b, are not threaded, but are
rigidly connected to form a part of a slotted finger piece 5, which connects the
ends of the opposing bracket members 3, and in connection therewith forms a
complete bridge piece, which, as will be seen, projects up high enough from the
wounded portion of the limb to admit of a free access to such portion and easy
treatment thereof.
In the practical application of my improved splint the base portions 1, 12, are
properly set at opposite sides of the line of flesh wound and made firm' and
immovable by fitting plaster Paris bandages in the usual way of applying
such bandages in simple fractures. In fractures of the thigh or at the knee the
pliable base members 1. 1ª extend over and cover the knee well, and the plaster
bandages made heavy by careful and increased quantity, the same treatment
being also employed at the ankle and foot to especially guard against any move-
ment of the joints.
This arrangement gives a continuous splint that will hold a fractured limb
either straight, or at any angle desired by the attending surgeon.
In operation after the fracture is properly reduced, the fractured limb is also
properly extended. It will be observed that when applied, my improved splint.
by reason of the bridge portion, furnishes the severed continuity of the plaster of
Paris portion and simply maintains immovably the extensions secured at reduc-
tion, and becomes an immobile auto-extension splint, because it is stable and of
itself maintains a proper extension of the injured limb.
In Figure 4 I have illustrated my improvement as having an adjustable bridge.
In this construction the central or apertured portion 5, is in the nature of a turn
buckle having right and left screw threads engaging the threaded ends of the
horizontal portions 3b, of the brackets 2. This adiustment permits of the splint
being broadened or contracted as the extent of flesh wound (with view of proper
drainage and treatment) justifies.
In the practical application of my invention a three inch bridge or bracket
piece, by the use of the turn buckle, can be extended to five inches; a four inch
to six inches; a five inch to seven inches, etc., without in the slightest impairing
its utility as the turn buckle can be cut sufficiently deep to stand more pressure
up and down than will be placed by proper use of the nut or of the ends of the
bracket members.
It will be understood the bridge portion can be made of any suitable material.
While my improved splint can be secured to the limb by bandaging in any
well known manner, vet preferably the same is applied in the following manner.
The sound part of the leg or other limb is encased in a flannel bandage, and
absorbent cotton applied at any joints where greater security or strength is desired,
to overcome tendency to rotary motion.
Under the base members 1, 1, is placed a pad of absorbent cotton or surgical
gauze, or lambs wool, which padding is allowed to extend a few inches below
the termination of the leather remote from the wound so that the abruptness or
unevenness at the end of the leather may be overcome to guard against cracking
of the plaster of Paris.
A two-inch or narrower bandage of flannel covers the entire base members of
the splint. This narrower bandage must, however, not be longer than necessary
to make a roll of two inches in diameter, so that when the brackets are reached
in bandaging, the said bandage can readily be passed under and between such
brackets making a figure 8 tie around the respective ends of the brackets, whereby
to draw them together and prevent spreading. A narrower plaster bandage is
also used over the leather and at the ends of the brackets for the same reason.
My improvement provides a simple means for furnishing the severed continuity
of plaster of Paris bandages without in the slightest impairing the efficacy of

page_text: the bandage as a whole and without interfering with a proper treatment of the
wound at the point of separation of the bandage sections.
It is manifest that the same can be used at any point where a plaster bandage
is applicable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A surgical splint, consisting of separated pads arranged for attachment to
a limb by bandages, and an angular rigid bridge piece having two vertical
members, and a horizontal member connecting said vertical members, the latter
being rigidly attached at their lower ends to each pad whereby to hold the
horizontal member above the outer face of the pads, as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. A surgical splint, consisting of separated pads arranged for attachment to a
limb by bandages, and an angular rigid bridge piece having two vertical members
and an extensible horizontal member connecting said vertical members, the said
vertical members being rigidly attached at their lower ends to each pad whereby
to hold the horizontal member above the outer face of the pads, as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. A surgical splint, consisting of a pair of juxtaposed and separated pads
arranged for attachment to a limb by bandages, said pads being formed with slots
in their adjacent edges, and angular bridge pieces provided with outwardly ex-
tending ends by which they are attached to the inner face of said pads in the
rear of said slots, vertical members extending through said slots to and beyond
the opposite face of the pads, and a horizontal member supported by said vertical
members above the last named face of the pads, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. A surgical splint, consisting of a pair of juxtaposed and separated pads
formed with slots in their adjacent edges, angular bridge pieces provided with
outwardly extending ends by which they are attached to the inner face of said
pads in the rear of said slots, vertical members extending through said slots
contiguous to the rear wall thereof to and beyond the opposite face of said pads,
and horizontal members supported by said vertical members, the said latter
members being separated between its ends, and the adjacent end being oppositely
screw threaded, and a turn buckle connecting said ends, as and for the purpose
set forth.
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