What Is Splinting Used For? Broken Bones, Pain, Swelling (2024)

FAQs

What Is Splinting Used For? Broken Bones, Pain, Swelling? ›

Splints are sometimes called half-casts. They help lessen pain, reduce swelling, and prevent movement like casts, but with more flexible support. The firm part of a splint doesn't wrap all the way around your injury, and it's held in place with an elastic bandage or other material. Some splints are ready-made.

Casts and splints hold the bones in place while they heal. They also reduce pain, swelling, and muscle spasms. In some cases, splints and casts are applied following surgery. Splints, otherwise known as half-casts, provide less support than casts.

Splint is used to:

Provide pain relief of the fractured limb. Support bone ends of the fracture site. Bones ends of the fracture site are very sharp. A splint helps prevent bone protruding through the skin, soft skin and tissue damage, as well as bleeding.

If you've been trained in how to splint and medical help isn't available right away, apply a splint to the area above and below the fracture sites. Padding the splints can help reduce pain. Apply ice packs to limit swelling and help relieve pain. Don't apply ice directly to the skin.

A splint makes sure you don't put stress on the injury and that part of your body while you're healing. While you're wearing a splint, you might not be able to move or use your injured body part. This will help it heal. It'll also help reduce pain and inflammation.

A splint usually stays on for several days to weeks. If the injured area is very swollen, a splint may be used first to allow for that swelling. If you need a cast, your doctor will remove the splint and apply a cast. Casts that are kept in good condition can stay on for several weeks.

It's important to keep moving your wrist as you normally would, but to avoid putting too much strain on it. You can also wear a splint at night.

If you stop a part of the body from moving because it causes pain or it may cause injury, that is called splinting. Splinting can be very complicated and it can be very simple, by a surgeon or by a patient.

The main indications for splinting are to temporarily immobilize a limb for pain and spasm, to decrease swelling, and to minimize further potential soft-tissue or neurovascular injuries associated with contusions, sprains, lacerations, fractures, dislocations, or painful joints due to inflammatory disorders.

You may have to wear your splint for several days to several weeks. If you have an ongoing condition, your doctor could advise you to wear a splint for longer than that. For instance, if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, you may need to have a splinted hand for certain activities, like sleeping or working on a computer.

What painkiller is good for bone swelling? ›

Over-the-counter treatments like Advil or ibuprofen or acetaminophen could be used. Prescriptions medicines such as Morphine or paracetamol could be used for a moderate or a severe pain too.

Inflammation is a key response that initiates osseus healing; however, an excess level of an inflammatory response can impair fracture healing and lead to nonunions. Other factors that significantly affect bone healing are inadequate blood supply, biomechanical instability, immunosuppression, and smoking.

It takes several days or weeks for the swelling to go down completely, and can take months for the ankle joint to fully recover from the fracture.

Splint and skin care

If your splint is not to be removed, try blowing cool air from a hair dryer or fan into the splint to help relieve itching. Never stick items under your splint to scratch the skin. Do not use oils or lotions near your splint.

Casts and splints support and protect injured bones and soft tissue. When you break a bone, your doctor will put the pieces back together in the right position. Casts and splints hold the bones in place while they heal. They also reduce pain, swelling, and muscle spasm.

A general rule is to splint from a joint above the injury to a joint below it. For example, splint a broken forearm from above the elbow to below the wrist.

Casts and splints serve to immobilize orthopedic injuries (Table 1). They promote healing, maintain bone alignment, diminish pain, protect the injury, and help compensate for surrounding muscular weakness. Improper or prolonged application can increase the risk of complications from immobilization (Table 2).

Depending on which type of injury you have, a splint will immobilize part or all of your finger. While your finger is in a splint, you won't be able to move or bend it. This will help it heal. It'll also help reduce pain and inflammation.

The splint was individually fitted for you. If you have any doubt as to its purpose please contact your therapist named below. Unless otherwise instructed, do not wear splint all day as this may result in increased weakness and wrist pain.