Splinting

Overview

4.3 out of 5 (7 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post Assessment Questions

5

Expiration Date

28 Feb 2026

Last Reviewed

1 Mar 2023

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


 
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Activity Description

Injuries that result in instability require immobilization, decreasing the likelihood of further damage, protecting soft tissues, alleviating pain, and accelerating healing. Instability may result from direct injury to the bones (fracture), joints (dislocation), or the soft tissues such as the muscles (strain) or ligaments (sprain). Following the diagnosis of an unstable injury, a splint may be the best treatment option and is loosely defined as an external device used to immobilize an injury or joint and is most often made out of plaster. A splint must be differentiated from a cast, to determine the best form of immobilization based on the clinical scenario. This activity remains the role of the healthcare team in assessing and applying splinting immobilization to injuries that will benefit from such a strategy.

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify the indications, and contraindications of splinting in the acute setting.
  • Describe the equipment, personnel, preparation, and technique in regards to splinting common musculoskeletal injuries such as sprains, fractures, and soft tissue injuries.
  • Review the potential complications of splinting for musculoskeletal injuries.
  • Outline the interprofessional team strategies for improving care coordination and communication to improve splinting outcomes.

Disclosures

StatPearls requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. None of the planners of this educational activity have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information


This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, and StatPearls, LLC. The Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University designates this activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity is reported to the following Maintenance of Certification (MOC) boards:
American Board of Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
American Board of Surgery
  • General Surgery

Instructions for Credit

  1. Register for the activity and create a StatPearls login.     
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content in the activity.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment.
  6. Obtain a certificate.

For information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.

Disclaimer

Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls specifically disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be received in writing and a money-back guarantee is provided if not completely satisfied.

  • StatPearlsand and Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University reserve the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances. StatPearls andQuillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University will not be responsible for other expenses incurred by the participant in the unlikely event that the program is canceled.

Medium or Media Used:

  • Computer Requirements: Internet Access
  • E-mail Address

Equal Opportunity

  • StatPearls andQuillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Institutions. 

 

Media Usage Rights

The contributors and editors of StatPearls have attested that all associated media (images and video) have been legally cleared for use with this activity.  All copyrights are reserved.

  • Name: 'splint.JPG' Attribution: Contributed by Tammy J. Toney-Butler, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN-Author Unknown
  • Name: 'splint completed.jpg' Attribution: Contributed by Tammy J. Toney-Butler, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN/Author Unknown
  • Name: 'Short Leg Splint Example.png' Attribution: Contributed by Anthony J. Silva, CCMA, EMT-B
  • Name: 'A_practical_treatise_on_fractures_and_dislocations_(1875)_(14596823139).jpg' Attribution: Contributed by Wikimedia Commons, (Public Domain)

Reviews

Kayleigh S. on 6/21/2021

rebecca n. on 12/18/2021

Emily W. on 3/30/2022

Ehsan Q. on 4/14/2022

Eliza T. on 6/5/2022

Crystal M. on 12/21/2022

Ehsan Q. on 1/18/2023

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