SPLINTING

Course overview

INJURIES RESULTING IN INSTABILITY REQUIRE IMMOBILIZATION TO DECREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FURTHER DAMAGE, PROTECT SOFT TISSUES, ALLEVIATE PAIN, AND ACCELERATE HEALING. INSTABILITY MAY RESULT FROM INJURY TO THE BONES, JOINTS, OR SOFT TISSUES, SUCH AS FRACTURES, DISLOCATIONS, STRAINS, OR SPRAINS. A SPLINT MAY BE THE BEST INITIAL TREATMENT OPTION FOR AN UNSTABLE INJURY, AND IT MAY BE THE DEFINITIVE TREATMENT FOR SOME INJURIES. A SPLINT MAY BE LOOSELY DEFINED AS AN EXTERNAL DEVICE EMPLOYED TO IMMOBILIZE AN INJURY OR JOINT. SPLINTING MATERIALS ARE MOST COMMONLY PLASTER OR PADDED FIBERGLASS. SPLINTING IS NOT A BENIGN PROCEDURE, AND CARE MUST BE TAKEN NOT TO INJURE THE PATIENT FURTHER. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE GENERAL INDICATIONS, NECESSARY EQUIPMENT, PROCEDURAL TECHNIQUES, AND COMMON COMPLICATIONS OF SPLINTING PROCEDURES WHILE HIGHLIGHTING THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH UNSTABLE MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES.