Splints or half casts also can be custom-made, especially if an exact fit is necessary. Other times, a ready-made splint will be used. They have Velcroo straps which make the splints easy to adjust, and to put on and take off. Your doctor will explain both how to use your injured arm or leg while it is healing and how to adjust your splint to accommodate swelling. Fiberglass or plaster materials form the hard supportive layer in splints and casts.
Plaster is less expensive than fiberglass and for some uses shapes better than fiberglass.
Both materials come in strips or rolls which are dipped in water and applied over a layer of cotton or synthetic padding covering the injured area. Both fiberglass and plaster splints and casts use padding, usually cotton, as a protective layer next to the skin. The splint or cast must fit the shape of the injured arm or leg correctly to provide the best possible support. Generally, the joint above and below the fractured bone also is covered by the splint or cast. Frequently, a splint is applied to a fresh injury first and, as swelling subsides, a full cast may be used to replace the splint.