Patient education: Caring for your splint (The Basics)

Why do I have a splint? — Splints can be used to treat broken bones (fractures), sprains, and other injuries. They reduce pain and protect the injured body part as it heals.

Unlike a cast, a splint does not completely cover the body part. It might be held in place with an elastic bandage or straps. In some cases, the splint stays on until a doctor removes it. Other times, splints can be removed if needed.

For some injuries, doctors might put on a splint first, and then a cast later.

Why is it important to take care of my splint? — It's important to take care of a splint so that the skin underneath doesn't get hurt or infected.

Can I take off my splint? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you can remove your splint to bathe. Depending on your injury, you might need to keep the splint on all the time.

If you can't take off your splint, you should do the following to keep it from getting wet while you bathe:

●Cover it with 2 plastic bags, and tape each bag (separately) to your skin with duct tape (figure 1).

●Keep your splint outside of the tub or shower when you wash your body.

●For young children, use a rubber band at the top of each plastic bag instead of tape. For them, removing the tape from the skin can hurt too much.

In some cases, you might be able to take off a splint when you bathe. If so, you will need to be careful with the injured body part when you wash and dry yourself. Be sure to fully dry the skin and then put the splint back on right after you bathe.

What if I have pain under my splint during the first few days? — If you have pain during the first few days, you can:

●Put ice on the splint – Use a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Do not put the ice (or other cold object) directly on your skin.

●Keep your splint raised (for example, on pillows) to help reduce swelling – To reduce swelling and pain, your splint needs to be raised above the level of your heart.

●Take medicine to relieve your pain – If your doctor prescribed pain-relieving medicine, you can take that. You can also ask your doctor or nurse about taking over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin).

What if the skin under my splint gets wet? — If your skin is wet and you cannot remove your splint, you can use a hair dryer to blow air inside the splint. Be sure the hair dryer is set to the "cool" setting.

If you can remove your splint, you can take it off and carefully dry your skin. Then, dry the splint with a hair dryer before putting it back on.

Do not put anything in your splint to scratch the skin.

What if my splint feels too tight? — If your splint feels too tight, it might be because of swelling. If swelling becomes severe, it can make it hard to move your fingers or toes. Or your fingers or toes might be blue, gray, or cold to the touch.

If your splint is too tight, you can:

●Take off the wrap that holds the splint in place.

●Raise your limb above the level of your heart – This will help reduce swelling. You can prop your limb up on pillows.

If your splint still feels too tight after trying these steps, take it off and call your doctor or nurse. They can put a new one on.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — See your doctor or nurse right away if:

●You have severe pain or pain that is getting worse.

●Your splint is still too tight after taking the steps above.

●You have sores or cuts on the skin under the splint.

You should ask your doctor or nurse to replace your splint if:

●Your splint smells bad.

●Your splint becomes soaking wet.

More on this topic

Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Common wrist injuries (The Basics)
Patient education: Finger fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Ankle fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Boxer's fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Meniscal tear (The Basics)
Patient education: Toe fracture (The Basics)

Patient education: Cast and splint care (Beyond the Basics)