Physical Education

Fracture of the Forearm
There are two long bones in the forearm, the radius and the ulna. When both are broken, the arm usually appears to be deformed. When only one is broken, the other acts as a splint and the arm retains a more natural appearance. Fractures usually result in pain, tenderness, swelling, and loss of movement.
In addition to the general procedures above, apply a pneumatic (air) splint if available; if not, apply two padded splints; one on the top (backhand side), and one on the bottom (palm side). Make sure the splints are long enough to extend from the elbow to the wrist.
Once the forearm is sprinted, place the forearm across the chest. The palm of the hand should be turned in with the thumb pointing up. Support the forearm in this position (Fig. 6-2) with a wide sling and cravat bandage. The band should be raised about 4 inches above the level of the elbow.

Figure 6-2 - Sling Used to Support a Fractured Forearm