Is a way of stabilizing an injury by immobilizing it. Splinting plays a major role in the management of musculoskeletal injuries, particularly those involving extremity fractures and joint dislocations. Immobilization of the extremity through splinting decreases pain and bleeding and prevents further soft tissue, vascular, or neurologic compromise. Splinting may provide definitive treatment for some injuries and nothing more is needed to heal.
Compared with casts, splints permit swelling and may prevent neurovascular compromise. The clinician should perform splinting immediately after the injury and maintain splinting or casting until the injury has healed completely.
Splints have traditionally been made of plaster of Paris, but in recent years many different types of splinting materials have become widely available. These include pre-formed plaster, fiberglass, pre-padded fiberglass, malleable aluminum, air splints, vacuum splints, and pre-formed "off-the-shelf" splints for nearly every body part.
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