Vacuum Splint

A vacuum splint is a splint made out of sealed vinyl filled with polystyrene beads that is easily pliable under normal circumstances. Once the vacuum splint is applied the air is removed through a suction device causing the ordinarily pliable splint to become rigid and support the fractured limb.

A vacuum splint is considered gold standard in terms of splinting difficult to splint fractures. Vacuum splinting is also very good for entire body splinting in patients who have a potential spinal cord injury. By utilising the entire body vacuum splint, paramedics are able to ensure the best spinal support for their patient during transport.