Cross-shaped bandage on the hand: advantages and disadvantages, indications for use

A cross-shaped bandage on the hand is one of the simplest but most effective methods of fixation. To apply it, you will need an elastic or gauze bandage, and the algorithm will be understandable even for beginners. This technique is used for injuries, bruises and sprains, as well as for holding compresses with medications. The procedure can be carried out either with an assistant or independently - no difficulties should arise if you follow the rules for applying a bandage and practice at home.

Features and indications for use

A cross-shaped bandage is also called a figure-of-eight bandage, since during its application the bandage forms a figure in the shape of a figure eight or a cross. This bandaging technique can be used on any part of the body, but it is most effective in the area of complex joints, including the wrist. This method is universal, suitable for fixing a joint in a certain position and is performed with a minimal set of tools and equipment.

A cruciate bandage is applied to the wrist joint in the following cases:

for fixing the wrist and hand during muscle and ligament sprains, bruises and tendon tears;
for holding dressings (ointments, compresses and other medications), including for open skin lesions;
in case of joint dislocation, as well as during the rehabilitation period after fractures;
for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases of the wrist and hand, to limit mobility and reduce pain.

If bone fractures are suspected, a cruciate bandage is not applied. In this case, you will need a splint for a more rigid fixation.

For strong fixation, it is recommended to use an elastic bandage. Gauze is suitable for treating wounds and holding compresses for arthritis. The application technique will be the same, regardless of the material.

The cross-shaped bandage is one of the basic methods of bandaging, so it is useful for everyone to know the technique of its implementation.

Cross-shaped bandage for the wrist and ankle joints

29.1 Cruciate bandage on the wrist joint

Equipment.

Bandage 10 cm wide, scissors.
Target.
Fixation of dressing material, partial immobilization of the joint.

29.2 Cruciate ankle splint

Equipment.

Bandage 10 cm wide, scissors.
Target.
Fixation of dressing material and partial immobilization of the joint.

1. Conduct psychological preparation of the patient. 2. Wash your hands. 3. Wear rubber gloves. 4. Invite the patient to take a position that is comfortable for him (sitting). 5. Stand facing the patient. 6. Hold the head of the bandage in your right hand, the beginning of the bandage in your left. 7. Unwind the bandage from left to right with the back to the surface, without taking your hands off it and without stretching the bandage in the air. 8. Unwind the bandage without forming folds. 9. Apply the bandage to the joint with the foot to the shin at a right angle. 10. Make two circular rounds in the lower third of the shin. 11. Place the bandage obliquely on the opposite side of the foot, go around it and move in an oblique direction to the lower leg. 12. Repeat the previous rounds several times. 13. Make two circular tours around the middle of the foot. 14. Return to the shin and secure the bandage in two circular rounds. 15. Upon completion of bandaging, cut the end of the bandage with scissors along the bandage. 16. Cross both ends and tie around the limb. 17. Check that the bandage is correct so that it securely covers the damaged area. 18. Disinfect used equipment. 19. Wash and dry your hands. 20. Make a note in the appropriate medical document.

Headbands

30.1 Circular headband

Equipment.

Bandage 10 cm wide, scissors.
Target.
Fixation of dressing material.

30.2 Cross-shaped bandage on the back of the head

Equipment.

Bandage 10 cm wide, scissors.
Target.
Fixation of dressing material.

1. Conduct psychological preparation of the patient. 2. Wash your hands. 3. Wear rubber gloves. 4. Invite the patient to take a position that is comfortable for him (sitting). 5. Stand facing the patient. 6. Hold the head of the bandage in your right hand, the beginning of the bandage in your left. 7. Unwind the bandage from left to right with the back to the surface, without taking your hands off it and without stretching the bandage in the air. 8. Unwind the bandage without forming folds. 9. Make two circular passes of the bandage around the head at forehead level. 10. Place the bandage over the left ear obliquely down to the back of the head, then around the neck and obliquely onto the head (behind the ear up), then alternate the above-mentioned moves of the bandage. 11. Finish the headband with two circular rounds. 12. Upon completion of bandaging, cut the end of the bandage to length with scissors. 13. Cross both ends and tie around the head. 14. Check that the bandage is correct so that it securely covers the damaged area. 15. Disinfect used equipment. 16. Wash and dry your hands. 17. Make a note in the appropriate medical document.

30.3 Cap bandage

Equipment.

Bandage 10 cm wide, gauze strip 60-80 cm long, scissors.
Target.
Fixation of dressing material.

1. Conduct psychological preparation of the patient. 2. Wash your hands. 3. Wear rubber gloves. 4. Invite the patient to take a position that is comfortable for him (sitting). 5. Stand facing the patient. 6. Hold the head of the bandage in your right hand, the beginning of the bandage in your left. 7. Unwind the bandage from left to right with the back to the surface, without taking your hands off it and without stretching the bandage in the air. 8. Unwind the bandage without forming folds. 9. Place the middle part of the strip on the crown of the head, lower the ends along the cheeks in front of the ears. These ends are held by the patient or a nursing . 10. Apply two layers of bandage around the head. 11. Then wrap the bandage around the strip and insert it obliquely, covering the back of the head. 12. Next, wrap the bandage around the strip on the other side and cover the forehead area. 13. Repeat the above steps, gradually moving to the crown, and cover the entire area of the arch with a bandage. 14. Finish the bandage by tying the end of the bandage with a strip, and tie the last one under the chin. 15. After finishing the bandaging, check that the bandage is correct so that it covers all damaged areas of the head and at the same time does not cause circulatory problems. 16. Disinfect used equipment. 17. Wash and dry your hands. 18. Make a note in the appropriate medical document.

30.4 Headband “Hippocrates Cap”

Equipment.

2 bandages 10 cm wide or a double-headed bandage, scissors.
Target.
Fixation of dressing material.

The numbers indicate the sequence of rounds of the bandage when applying the bandage

1. Conduct psychological preparation of the patient. 2. Wash your hands. 3. Wear rubber gloves. 4. Invite the patient to take a position that is comfortable for him (sitting). 5. Stand facing the patient. 6. Hold the head of the bandage in your right hand, the beginning of the bandage in your left. 7. Unwind the bandage from left to right with the back to the surface, without taking your hands off it and without stretching the bandage in the air. 8. Unwind the bandage without forming folds. 9. Prepare a double-headed bandage: unwind the bandage on one side to the middle, and then roll it in the direction of the first half. 10. Take both heads of the bandage in your hands and unwind from both sides of the head, passing over the ears under the occipital protuberance. 11. Grasp the heads of the bandage in opposite hands and return to the frontal area. 12. In the middle of the forehead, cross the bandages and change the direction of the lower bandage by 90°, cover the area of the head through the center of the back of the head, and continue the circular tour with the other head of the bandage. 13. Next, changing the direction, cover the area of the arch with one head of the bandage (or one bandage), and move the second bandage (head) around the head, securing the anteroposterior tours. 14. Upon completion of bandaging, cut the end of the bandage with scissors along the bandage. 15. Cross both ends and tie around the head. 16. Check that the bandage is correct so that it securely covers the damaged area. 17. Disinfect used equipment. 18. Wash and dry your hands. 19. Make a note in the appropriate medical document.

30.5 Bridle bandage

Equipment.

Bandage 10 cm wide, scissors.
Target.
Immobilization of the lower jaw (in case of a jaw fracture, after reduction of a dislocation).

1. Conduct psychological preparation of the patient. 2. Wash your hands. 3. Wear rubber gloves. 4. Invite the patient to take a position that is comfortable for him (sitting). 5. Stand facing the patient. 6. Hold the head of the bandage in your right hand, the beginning of the bandage in your left. 7. Unwind the bandage from left to right with the back to the surface, without taking your hands off it and without stretching the bandage in the air. 8. Unwind the bandage without forming folds. 9. Make two circular passes of the bandage around the head. 10. In the area of the back of the head, apply the bandage obliquely to the side of the neck and under the lower jaw. 11. Cover the jaw and direct the bandage through the cheek in front of the auricle vertically upward to the middle of the parietal region. 12. Next, move the bandage down the opposite cheek in front of the ear to the lower jaw. 13. Make several (3-4) such vertical rounds (do not block the auricle!). 14. After this, move the bandage from under the chin obliquely to the back of the head, and then to the jaw, fixing it. Do several of these tours. 15. Finish the bandage with two circular rounds at forehead level. 16. Upon completion of bandaging, cut the end of the bandage with scissors along the bandage. 17. Cross both ends and tie around the head. 18. Check that the bandage is correct so that it securely covers the damaged area. 19. Disinfect used equipment. 20. Wash and dry your hands. 21. Make a note in the appropriate medical document.

Note.

The victim should be transported to the maxillofacial department of the hospital.

Overlay technique

A figure-of-eight bandage covers the hand and wrist joint. It leaves the fingers open, so it is not used for complex injuries with their damage. To apply it, you will need a regular gauze or elastic bandage with a width of 5 cm and a pin to secure it. The procedure will take a few minutes, and after a little practice you will be able to bandage your hand yourself, without assistants.

We also recommend reading: How to bandage your hand with an elastic bandage

The first stage is preparatory. First, you should choose the optimal position for the limb, in which the pain is least pronounced. If necessary, the wound is treated, ointment or other medicine is applied. This may additionally require a cotton pad.
The first two rounds (turns) of the bandage are applied evenly (circularly), around the area immediately above the wrist joint.
The third round of the bandage is carried out obliquely, through the back surface of the hand. The fourth is circular, runs along the fingers, but does not affect them. Then the bandage is returned obliquely to the place where the bandage was applied.
To secure the cruciform bandage, all rounds are repeated several more times. Finally, the bandage is wrapped circularly around the lower part of the forearm, just above the wrist joint. After this, the end of the bandage should be secured with a regular pin. It is not recommended to fold the edge of the bandage under the rest of its layers - this can cause circulatory problems.

A cross-shaped bandage is applied either directly to the skin or over a layer of fabric. It is not advisable to apply it to clothes with long sleeves.

While wearing the bandage, there should not be a feeling of squeezing of the limb or fingers, as well as numbness, goosebumps or tingling. The bandage is applied loosely enough so as not to compress blood vessels and nerves. If discomfort begins some time after applying the bandage, it should be removed and the procedure repeated.

The technique of applying a figure-of-eight bandage is easy to figure out on your own.

Bandages for the upper limb.

Spiral bandage on the finger (Fig. 1) . Most hand wraps begin with circular securing strokes of the bandage in the lower third of the forearm just above the wrist. The bandage is passed obliquely along the back of the hand to the end of the finger and, leaving the tip of the finger open, the finger is bandaged in spiral moves to the base. Then the bandage is returned to the forearm through the back of the hand. Bandaging is completed with circular rounds in the lower third of the forearm.

Fig.1. Spiral bandaged finger.

Cross-shaped bandage on the hand (Fig. 2). Covers the dorsum and palmar surfaces of the hand, except for the fingers, fixes the wrist joint, limiting the range of movements. The width of the bandage is 10 cm. Bandaging begins with securing circular tours on the forearm. Then the bandage is passed along the back of the hand onto the palm, around the hand to the base of the second finger. From here, along the back of the hand, the bandage is returned obliquely to the forearm. To more securely hold the dressing on the hand, cross-shaped moves are supplemented with circular moves of the bandage on the hand. Complete the application of the bandage in circular motions over the wrist.

Rice. 2.Cruciform (eight-shaped) bandage on the hand

Scarf bandage on the hand (Fig. 3). Place the scarf so that its base is located in the lower third of the forearm above the area of the wrist joint. The hand is placed with the palm of the hand on the scarf and the top of the scarf is folded onto the back of the hand. The ends of the scarf are circled several times around the forearm above the wrist and tied.

Fig.3. Scarf bandage for hand

Spiral bandage on the forearm (Fig. 4). To apply a bandage, use a 10 cm wide bandage. Bandaging begins with circular strengthening rounds in the lower third of the forearm and several ascending spiral rounds. Since the forearm has a cone-shaped shape, a tight fit of the bandage to the surface of the body is ensured by bandaging in the form of spiral rounds with bends to the level of the upper third of the forearm. To make a bend, hold the lower edge of the bandage with the first finger of your left hand, and with your right hand make a bend towards you 180 degrees. The top edge of the bandage becomes the bottom, the bottom - the top. At the next round, the bend of the bandage is repeated. The bandage is fixed with circular bands of bandage in the upper third of the forearm.

Fig.4. Spiral ascending bandage with bends on the forearm (technique for performing bandage bends)

Turtle bandage for the elbow joint. In case of injury directly in the area of the elbow joint, a converging turtle bandage is applied. If the injury is located above or below the joint, a divergent turtle bandage is used. The width of the bandage is 10 cm. Converging tortoiseshell bandage (Fig. 5). The arm is bent at the elbow joint at an angle of 90 degrees. Bandaging begins in circular strengthening rounds either in the lower third of the shoulder above the elbow joint, or in the upper third of the forearm. Then, using eight-shaped rounds, the dressing material is closed in the area of damage. The passes of the bandage intersect only in the area of the elbow bend. The eight-shaped rounds of the bandage are gradually shifted towards the center of the joint. Finish the bandage with circular tours along the joint line.

Fig.5. Converging tortoiseshell elbow bandage

Expanding tortoiseshell bandage (Fig. 6). Bandaging begins with circular fastening rounds directly along the line of the joint, then the bandage is alternately applied above and below the elbow bend, covering two-thirds of the previous rounds. All passages intersect along the flexor surface of the elbow joint. This way the entire joint area is covered. The bandage is finished in circular motions on the shoulder or forearm.

Rice. 6. Diverging turtle bandage for the elbow joint

Spiral shoulder bandage (Fig. 7.). The shoulder area is covered with a regular spiral bandage or a spiral bandage with kinks. A bandage 10–14 cm wide is used. In the upper parts of the shoulder, to prevent the bandage from slipping, bandaging can be completed with rounds of a spica bandage.

Fig. 7 Spiral shoulder bandage

Scarf bandage on the shoulder joint (Fig. 8). The medical scarf is folded with a tie and the middle is brought into the axillary fossa, the ends of the bandage are crossed over the shoulder joint, passed along the front and back surfaces of the chest and tied in the axillary region of the healthy side.

Fig.8. Scarf bandage for the shoulder joint area

Kerchief bandage for suspending the upper limb (Fig. 9). Used to support the injured upper limb after applying a soft bandage or transport immobilization bandage. The injured arm is bent at the elbow joint at a right angle. An unfolded scarf is placed under the forearm so that the base of the scarf runs along the axis of the body, its middle is slightly above the forearm, and the top is behind and above the elbow joint. The upper end of the scarf is placed on the healthy shoulder girdle. The lower end is placed on the shoulder girdle of the damaged side, covering the forearm in front with the lower smaller part of the scarf. The ends of the scarf are tied with a knot above the shoulder girdle. The top of the scarf is wrapped around the elbow joint and secured with a pin to the front of the bandage.

Fig.9. Upper limb suspension bandage

Deso bandage (Fig. 10). It is used for temporary immobilization of the injured arm in case of clavicle fractures by bandaging it to the body. The width of the bandage is 10-14 cm. Bandaging is always carried out towards the injured arm. If the bandage is applied to the left hand, bandage in the direction from left to right (bandage head in the right hand), on the right hand - from right to left (bandage head in the left hand).

Fig. 10. Deso bandage

Before starting bandaging, place a roll of compressed gray non-absorbent cotton wool wrapped in a piece of wide bandage or gauze into the axillary fossa of the damaged side. A roller is inserted to eliminate the lengthwise displacement of clavicle fragments. The injured arm is bent at the elbow joint at a right angle, pressed to the body and the shoulder is bandaged to the chest with circular rounds (1), which are applied below the level of the cushion located in the axillary region on the side of the injury. Next, from the axillary region of the healthy side, the bandage is led obliquely upward along the front surface of the chest to the shoulder girdle of the damaged side (2), where the bandage should pass through the central fragment of the clavicle closer to the lateral surface of the neck. Then the bandage is moved down along the back of the shoulder under the middle third of the forearm. Having covered the forearm, the bandage is continued along the chest to the axillary region of the healthy side (3) and along the back obliquely upward to the shoulder girdle of the damaged side, where the bandage is again passed through the central fragment of the clavicle closer to the lateral surface of the neck, after which the bandage is carried down along the front surface shoulder under the elbow (4). From under the elbow, the bandage is led in an oblique direction through the back into the axillary region of the uninjured side. The described moves of the bandage are repeated several times, forming a bandage that provides reliable immobilization of the upper limb. The bandage is secured in a circular motion over the shoulder and chest.

Advantages and disadvantages

The cross bandage is one of the simplest methods that can be easily repeated at home. It is easy to use and versatile, so it can replace more complex bandaging methods. The only drawback of this technology is that it is not suitable for fixing areas with long tubular bones (forearm, lower leg). However, it is worth practicing applying the figure-eight bandage at home, due to several of its advantages:

versatility - the technique is useful not only for the hand, but also for the patient’s ankle, collarbone and head;
a simple technique that even a beginner can handle;
importance - with a cruciate bandage you can not only protect your hand after an injury, but also provide first aid to the victim.

A cross-shaped, or figure-of-eight, bandage is one of the simplest ways to fix the hand and wrist joint. It is suitable for both injuries and wound treatment. It is easy to learn how to perform it at home and apply it, including on your own limb, without assistants.