What it means
Splints hold an injured limb still to ease pain and prevent more damage, as with a suspected fracture, a sprain or swelling that is too new for a cast. Unlike a cast, a splint does not go all the way around the limb, so it allows for swelling and can often be taken off.
For the nurse
Splint a suspected fracture in the position found, including the joints above and below. Check circulation, movement and feeling beyond the splint before and after applying it, and report coldness, pale or blue skin, numbness or increasing pain.
At a glance
| Spanish | férula |
|---|---|
| Also written | splints |
Related terms
alignment
The correct lining up of body parts or of the pieces of a broken bone.
compartment syndrome
A buildup of pressure inside a closed group of muscles that cuts off their blood supply.