How should a lower arm fracture be immobilized to maintain alignment on the field?

• A. Immobilize in the position found using a rigid or padded support that spans from just above the elbow to the hand, with padding at pressure points and immobilization of the elbow and wrist.
• B. Realign the fracture to anatomical position before splinting.
• C. Immobilize by applying a hip-to-hand long cast.
• D. Only immobilize the elbow and leave the hand free.

Answer: (A)

Stabilizing a lower arm fracture on the field means keeping the limb in its current aligned position and preventing movement that could worsen the injury. The best approach is to immobilize with a rigid or padded splint that runs from just above the elbow to the hand, with padding at pressure points and securing both the elbow and the wrist. This preserves the existing alignment, minimizes further displacement, reduces pain, and protects underlying nerves and blood vessels during transport.

Realigning the fracture on the field isn’t advised unless you’re trained for it, because attempting it can cause additional damage. A hip-to-hand long cast isn’t practical or necessary for field management. Immobilizing only the elbow leaves the rest of the forearm and hand unprotected, allowing movement that can worsen the fracture.