What are the Essential Principles of Splinting?

For a splint to heal properly, you need to ensure it is set and applied properly. For more information, keep reading this post about the principles of splinting. As a therapist, I assure you have come across this question from patients in your line of work – can I unwrap my splint? Considering the patient’s unique anatomy and the functional requirements is important when treating a splint. Supporting the angles of the metacarpal arch and the curvature is important. You should also be sensitive to the hand’s palmar surface from the sensory input. Let’s now look at the principles of splinting at urgent care in Wilmington. 

Adjustability 

Meeting the patient’s mechanical needs is not the only thing that a well-designed splint should address. It should also be adjustable to make it fit the patient’s status. As a therapist, you should have enough experience to appropriately adjust or modify the splint. This works differently in different patients. The modification and the customization of each orthosis should fit the patient’s needs. Besides meeting the needs of patients using custom orthosis, you should be able to adjust the available orthoses if they are not fitting properly ask to doctor that can i unwrap my splint?

Reassessing the splint 

Setting up a future appointment to reassess the splint is recommended. Splint reassessment helps you to check whether the splint is still fitting well and fulfilling its intended purpose. Evaluating the patient’s status during the initial fabrication and fitting of the orthoses is also important. Revaluation of the splint after a while is critical to ensure that the orthosis still fits properly and whether it is still necessary. Based on this splitting principle, practicing routine checks is critical for patients to heal properly. 

Keep it simple

Another useful principle of splinting is keeping the orthosis simple. Simplicity works in many things in life but more in orthotic fabrication. The splint should be as simple as possible. Use cosmetically acceptable materials followed by the contours of the hand. As a therapist, you should design the orthosis properly and construct it carefully. You should also consider the patient’s feedback and only adjust where necessary. The patient needs to be satisfied and comfortable with the final results after the treatment. 

Ovoid pressure points

Addressing pressure points is also a good idea when dealing with splints. If the patient fills numbness in some or skin blanching, it shows that there is compression that needs to be corrected. You can do this by applying some padding or bumping out the material. Besides that, you also need to spread the material over a wide area. 

Reduce discomfort and ensure comfort 

Keeping pain at bay and ensuring that the patient is comfortable is one of the principles of splitting. Make the patient understand the importance of wearing the orthosis and reassess. Having a consultation with the patient to discuss what is acceptable is also important. However, this will depend on each patient’s condition and diagnosis.  

Keep learning 

One way of increasing your knowledge as a therapist is to consult and discuss orthoses and orthotic fabrication techniques with other therapists. Once you do this, your assessment and reassessment knowledge will increase.

Conclusion

If you are a therapist, it is advisable to keep learning new orthoses and orthotic fabrication techniques every day. This will ensure that your patients heal properly from splints. Can i unwrap my splint? Remember to keep the orthoses simple so that it would be easy to make necessary adjustments. Failure to treat splints properly may lead to further complications and inflammation. The patient’s comfort is also important, but you should also consider the diagnosis of the patient’s condition.