Material properties: a factor in the selection and application of splinting materials for athletic wrist and hand injuries.

Abstract

Athletic injuries to the wrist and hand are common in clinical practice. When indicated, the use of a protective playing splint enables athletes to continue sports participation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the splinting material properties that determine the materials' suitability for use in fabrication of a protective playing splint. A second aim is to present currently available splinting materials. The clinical reasoning process for material application and selection is based on understanding material properties, the type and severity of the injury, phase of treatment, and type of sport. Of the materials included in this paper, only the low-temperature materials are acceptable for use in construction of rigid splints. The no heat or layered materials can be used for fabricating the semirigid splints. It is suggested that meaningful comparisons between the material properties can only be made if laboratory and clinical comparative studies are conducted to compare the physical and mechanical properties of the splinting materials used in athletic application.