In hip fracture/dislocation care, which additional step is recommended?

• A. Splint in Position of Comfort with pillows/blankets
• B. Move to a hard board
• C. Remove the limb
• D. No care needed

Answer: (A)

When someone may have a hip fracture or dislocation, the priority is to keep the injured leg as still and supported as possible to reduce pain and prevent further injury. Splinting in the position of comfort using pillows or blankets provides gentle stabilization that preserves the leg’s natural alignment without forcing movement or straightening the limb. This approach helps protect surrounding tissues, nerves, and blood vessels from additional damage and makes it safer to transport the person to medical care.

Moving the person onto a hard board can create uncomfortable pressure points and may worsen pain or displacement because it rigidly fixes the limb without accommodating its natural resting position. Removing the limb or doing nothing at all would ignore the need for stabilization and could lead to serious complications, so immediate immobilization with soft supports is the appropriate step.