Acute and definitive treatment of select fractures

Soft tissue injuries (sprains, tendons)

Acute management of injuries awaiting orthopedic intervention

Allows for acute swelling

Decreased risk of complications

Faster and easier application

Commercial splints available and appropriate for select injuries

May be static (preventing motion) or dynamic (functional; assisting with controlled motion)

Lack of compliance

Increased range of motion at injury site

Not useful for definitive care of unstable or potentially unstable fractures

Definitive management of simple, complex, unstable, or potentially unstable fractures

Severe, nonacute soft tissue injuries unable to be managed with splinting

Higher risk of complications

More technically difficult to apply