Comparable application metrics but poor clinical acceptability of thermoplastic and premade splints applied by novice bandagers in a canine hock cadaver model.

Novice splint application produces poor clinical outcomes regardless of splint type used.

This study compared premade plastic and thermoplastic splints applied to canine hock cadavers by 15 novice bandagers. Participants applied one splint type per hind limb and self-recorded application time. Premade splints required significantly less time (9.4 ± 2.1 minutes) compared to thermoplastic splints (12.0 ± 2.3 minutes). Subjective scoring by a single surgeon indicated premade splints were superior in 67% of cases, thermoplastic in 27%, and equal in 10%. Clinical acceptability was poor for both types: only 26% of premade and 20% of thermoplastic splints met clinical standards. User preference was nearly evenly split, with 47% preferring premade and 53% preferring thermoplastic materials. The authors concluded that while application metrics were comparable between splint types, both showed poor clinical acceptability when applied by novices. The study suggests that despite similar utility between splint materials, practitioners require improved training in splint placement technique to achieve clinically acceptable outcomes in orthopedic immobilization.

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