Whether to use a cast or a splint for a fracture

Plaster and splint have their own advantages and disadvantages, the use of plaster or splint depends on the fracture, listen to the doctor's advice.

Traditional splinting is the use of flexible cedar bark, willow boards, bamboo boards or plastic boards, plus fixation pads, tied to the outside of the fractured limb to fix the fracture, the scope of fixation is smaller than the plaster bandage. Generally does not include the fracture of the upper and lower joints, to facilitate timely exercise, to prevent the occurrence of joint stiffness complications. The disadvantage of small splint fixation is that it is not easy to shape, not suitable for the fixation of fractures near the joints, tied too loosely or improper use of fixation pads and lose the role of fixation, resulting in the fracture of the fracture again displacement, or tied too tightly to produce compression ulceration, ischemic muscular atrophy, or even gangrene and other adverse consequences of the limb.

Plaster bandage with anhydrous calcium sulfate fine powder to spread in the special thin hole gauze bandage made of water-soaked crystals wrapped around the limb, solidified into a solid shell, on the fracture limb to play an effective role in fixation. Its advantage is that it can be molded according to the shape of the limb, so the fixation effect is really reliable. Its disadvantage is not elastic, and can not be adjusted at any time the degree of tightness, is not suitable for the use of fixation pads, so the fixation range is larger, generally more than the upper and lower joints of the fracture, so that these joints in the period of fracture fixation can not carry out activities and exercises. If you do not pay attention to strengthen the fixed limbs of the contraction activities, after the removal of the plaster bandage, can produce joint stiffness and other sequelae, hindering the rapid recovery of the affected limb function.

Now orthopedics and a new type of fixed material medical polymer bandage, polymer splint, they overcome the traditional splints, plaster shortcomings, light weight bearing capacity, more stable and safe, good plasticity, the doctor's operation is simple and convenient, and therefore more and more doctors are favored.