Roller Bandages

General bandaging rules

Preparation for the procedure requires proper positioning. The patient should be in a comfortable position with muscles as relaxed as possible. The body part being bandaged is immediately placed in a functionally advantageous position — the one in which it will remain after the bandage is applied. Moving the limb during the manipulation is prohibited.

Bandage handling technique:

• Direction of turns. Turns are applied from left to right relative to the person applying the bandage. There are few exceptions: the bandage on the left eye and the Desault bandage on the right arm.
• Hand coordination. The right hand unrolls the head of the bandage, while the left hand holds the bandage and smooths out the fabric turns.
• Skin contact. The bandage must continuously roll along the surface being bandaged. Unrolling it beforehand in the air is unacceptable.
• Tension. It must be uniform throughout, without excessive tightness or looseness.

Basic bandaging techniques

Depending on the wound localization and anatomical features of the area, various types of bandages are used:

1. Spiral bandage. Ideal for extensive injuries of the limbs and trunk. It begins with circular turns, after which the bandage is led in an oblique direction.
2. Creeping bandage (serpens). Serves as a preliminary stage for fixing long dressing material without an assistant. It is performed in a spiral manner, with the turns not touching — a free space equal to the width of the bandage remains between them.
3. Figure-eight or cruciate bandage (cruciata seu octoidea). Indispensable on areas with an irregular surface shape (neck, chest, perineum). Alternates anchoring circular and crossing turns.
4. Spica bandage. An aesthetic variant of the figure-eight bandage. The crosses lie strictly along a single line, resembling a spike of grain. It holds well on the shoulder and hip joints without slipping during movement.
5. “Turtle” bandage. Intended exclusively for the elbow and knee joints. Available in convergent and divergent variants.
6. Recurrent bandage. Used on the head, hand, foot, or limb stump. A fold is made on the anterior surface, the bandage is led vertically across the end to the posterior surface. Vertical turns are fixed with circular ones and gradually shifted toward the edges.

Bandaging the head and neck

To protect the head, bandages such as the cap, Hippocratic cap (mitra Hippocratis), as well as single-eye (monoculus) or binocular (binoculus) bandages are used.

Special attention is required for the cruciate bandage of the occiput and neck. Its algorithm:

1. The bandage is secured with circular turns around the head.
2. Above and behind the left ear, the fabric is brought down to the right lateral surface of the neck.
3. It goes around the front of the neck.
4. The bandage is raised along the back of the neck upward toward the right ear.
5. Going around the front of the head, the bandage is passed obliquely downward over the left ear, without completely covering the previous turns.
6. The bandage is completed with a stabilizing circular turn around the head.

Criteria for a proper bandage

A finished bandage is considered correctly applied if it meets five strict requirements. It must:

• Firmly fix the dressing material.
• Fully cover the affected area.
• Be lightweight.
• Be aesthetic (“neat”).
• Remain comfortable and convenient for the patient to wear.

Class and exam questions

What else to study on this topic

• Technique of applying bandages to the hand (figure-eight, spiral finger bandage)
• Differences between convergent and divergent “turtle” bandages for joints
• Specifics of bandaging the foot and ankle joint
• Algorithm for applying the Hippocratic cap (mitra Hippocratis) and regular cap
• Features of the figure-eight chest bandage

Other topics in "CHAPTER 10. GENERAL ISSUES IN TRAUMATOLOGY"

Prepared by WhiteCoat Pro faculty in accordance with the medical school curriculum. For educational purposes only.