title: Casting and Splinting Management for Hand Injuries in the In-Season Contact Sport Athlete.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Upper extremity injuries are extremely common in contact sports such as football, soccer, and lacrosse. The culture of competitive athletics provides an environment where hand injuries are frequently downplayed in an effort to prevent loss of game time. However, studies have shown that many sport-induced hand injuries do not actually require immediate surgical attention and can be safely treated through immobilization so that the athlete may complete the athletic season. In these cases, appropriate casting and splinting measures should be taken to ensure protection of the injured player and the other competitors without causing loss of game time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles published between 1976 and 2015 were reviewed to capture historical and current views on the treatment of hand injuries in the in-season athlete.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although traditionally many sports-induced traumatic injuries to the hand held the potential to be season-ending injuries, experience has shown that in-season athletes do not necessarily need to lose game time to receive appropriate treatment. A thorough knowledge of converting everyday splints and casts into game day, sport-approved protective immobilization devices is key to safely allowing athletes with select injuries to play while injured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Protective techniques allow for maximum functionality during gameplay while safely and effectively protecting the injury from further trauma while bony healing takes place.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Katherine H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Carruthers
authors.affiliation: University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, Ohio.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skie
authors.affiliation: Athletic Department, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siparsky
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000628:therapy*; D050276:Hand Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D011482:Protective Devices; D012621:Seasons; D013165:Splints
keywords: athletics; casting; hand injury; in-season injury; splinting